Thanks so much to all of you for everything. I know I haven't responded to each and every single one of your kind messages to me, but this message, particularly the poems, are from me to you in the hope that they bring comfort to you.

I am working on trying to get through all of this sorrow. I have had some more very strange things happen to me this week -- here's part of it.

On the day Babe died (before it happened), I had gone to get a massage because I was just aching all over, and I thought it would help me feel better.

Yesterday, I went to the place called Harmony House, where they have all types of meetings for women who are trying to achieve their best in life, etc. They do Yoga, etc. I went for some "breath work." It helped some. I cried, mostly for Hannah and for myself.

Anyway, oh my way home, I encountered what looked like a car wreck with fire trucks, police, etc. Come to find out, some apartments down the street from me WHERE MY AUNT AND MY COUSIN LIVED UNTIL JUST AFTER HANNAH DIED were on fire! Long story short, I went down there because I know a few people who still lived there, one of them being the "friend" who abandoned me that day when I went to see the vet who put Hannah to sleep.

Someone had given him several birds just after Hannah died, and I didn't know if he still had them or not because I have not spoken to him since that day he left me at the vet's. Anyway, I saw him, and said what about your birds -- are they okay? He said he had arrived before the fire dept. and part of the complex was blazing. He dashed into his apartment, grabbed some money and the bird (he had given all but one away). The bottom of the cage fell off and the bird flew out. I stayed there for several hours talking to people, to him, and waiting to get in to see if we could find the bird in the courtyard. The firemen gave us a few minutes, but we didn't find the bird. He was supposed to have gone back last night again to look. I don't know if he did.

Anyway, I surely do believe the Universe or God is trying to tell me something!

For right now, what I am trying to do is to put together a concise list to give to animal shelters, pet shops, vets, etc., about caring for their animals and warning of particular dangers that people might not know about or think about. I am going to ask LS people to contribute and to share the info too when we get it done. Things like never leaving your animals in the car, chocolate is poison, halters for small dogs (by the way, I have seen nothing mentioned about this in any of the many articles I have been gathering!), instead of collars, kids and pets, electrical cords, etc. Some of these things are common sense, but we don't always think about them. I want it to be short enough that people will read it and I would like to even be able to frame something instead of it being a piece of paper they will put in a drawer or throw away. I want to start it with one or two TOTALLY SHOCKING STORIES to catch their attention to make them read it.

I know some of you would like to help and have your own tragic stories to share.

I am going to post a few poems on the site today -- today is three months for my little Hannah girl and one week for little Babe.

I am going to get out and see if I can get my ******* and my landlord to help some of those people whose apartments were TOTALLY destroyed in the fire. At least ten people lost everything they had. Three *******s put all of the people there up in rooms for at least three nights. I thought that was great. Mine wasn't one of them, but maybe I can get them to do something.

POEMS FOR HEALING AND HOPE FOR US ALL AND IN MEMORY AF MY PRECIOUS LITTLE BABE AND PRECIOUS LITTLE HANNAH AND ALL OF YOU TOO!

Let Me Go
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little — but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared.
Miss me — but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Master plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss me — but let me go.
— Author Unknown

comfort for Grieving Animal Lovers The Grief Healing Site~
About Grief Healing About The Site Author, Marty Tousley

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She Is Gone
You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and lose your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
-- Author Unknown

Comfort for Grieving Animal Lovers
The Grief Healing Site~ About Grief Healing About The Site Author, Marty Tousley

*************
I Only Wanted You
They say memories are golden
well maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.
A million times I needed you,
a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you
you never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.
If tears could build a stairway
and heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.

Author unknown

*************

The Ribbon of Time
by Bobbi Talisman
A glance about the room that comes to rest upon my toys
Wraps your heart in sorrow, crowding out the many joys.
The small impression left upon my bed results in pain;
You fear you cannot--will not--feel a love like ours again.
My collar, silent now, unworn, reminds how deep the wound;
The bowls, now standing empty, say your heart's not healing soon.
But time is just a ribbon, doubled back to front and sealed;
An ever-winding journey 'long which mysteries are revealed.
The deepest mystery? As you'll learn: we've shared our lives before--
And share again, we shall, my friend, for once there's love, there's more.
So, patience, peace, and promise are my gifts to you each day
Till the ribbon wraps our lives again in its wondrous way.

http://www.imom.org/loss/poems.htm#toys

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We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our own
live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan.
-- Irving Townsend, in The Once Again Prince
***********
When I Am Gone

When I am gone release me....
Let me go - to find out all that I can be.
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had our precious years.
I gave you love. You can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it's time I traveled on my own.
So grieve awhile for me, as grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust,
It's only for awhile that we must part;
So bless the memories that lie within your heart.

If you need me, call and I'll be there.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And then, when you must come
This way on your own...
I'll greet you with a smile
And say, "Welcome Home"!

Anonymous

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BLESS YOU ALL!
Love,
Marcia