On our latest podcast, Maria and I talk about the death of Red, what it means to us, how we are dealing with it, how his loss will affect our loves and our other dogs, especially Fate.
I have always resisted what I called the “Children Are Starting In India” philosophy of my mother, who tried to pressure into eating by telling how many children in the world had no food.
It is tempting for me to do that when a dog dies. Look at the news, people are getting shot and sick and starve, all over the world. How much mourning am I entitled to do for a dog?
But it doesn’t work that way.
And there are practical issues. Are we getting another dog? How will the other dogs deal with Red’s loss?
Red is a profound loss to me, and to Maria. This time, I don’t want to run from it or hide from it. Neither do I want to wallow in it.
My friend Eve Marko messaged me this morning, and as always, is full of wisdom. Loss Is Loss, she wrote, Loss Is Loss.
So simple, yet so true and profound. Loss is loss. You can’t run grief, it runs you.
You can listen to the podcast here, and thanks.
A tribute for Red and all the other dogs we have loved and lost . THE FIRST TWO YEARS . a poem by myself . The first two years are the worst two years , I know this to be true . You have to be firm for he has to learn what he must or must not do . From then on it’s great as he starts to relate and obeys your commands to the latter , so you enter a Show but just wouldn’t you know , your hopes all end up in the gutter . But the best years of all are the ones you recall at the end when all hope was in vain and it’s then you would give EVERYTHING just to live , those first two years over again . ( I always cry when I type this ) God Bless Red your work is now done .
Deepest condolences at the loss of your campion, and totally agree with Eve loss is loss.
Losing a dog. Hard. Tough. So glad I found your book after losing a third one in a row. So I don’t need to tell you any sage advice. She’s right. Loss IS loss. Love is love too and what we feel for our dogs is love. And so with love comes eventual loss. That’s just the way it is. My sympathy to both you and Maria. Marty
In your podcast, I think you hit upon it without directly stating it. Every animal becomes part of the fabric of our lives. When they leave, the fabric is ripped, a new pattern is needed. Red was a strong part of the fabric of Bedlam Farm, your work. The fabric needs a new pattern. It is not obvious yet, but it will emrege