Tonight is one month since we said goodbye to our Beloved Thunder. The pain of losing him is still gut wrenching. We just couldn't face picking up his ashes when they came back to the vet clinic, and put it off for two weeks, we brought him home on Monday and I put his collar around his urn, because Thunder didn't like not having his collar on.

I look at his picture and it's so hard to believe he's been gone a month. I take our other dog Storm out and I remember Thunder running and playing in the back yard and the tears start falling.

A friend of mine made a memorium for me, we are going to print it out and frame it and keep it by his urn.

I just miss him so much.

Oh Shadow Dancer

The memorial to blessed Thunder took my breath away! And filled my eyes with tears. The words are so beautiful. Then I read the words "passed suddenly" after only a few years. Both of my labs, Gretta (the kindest chocolate lab who ever lived) and Rufus (my Big Black Dog with the strong back) passed suddenly. They showed symptoms only for a single day. And I can so relate to the picking up of the ashes. The Vet School who had Rufus's ashes had to call me several times before I could pluck up the courage to go and get them and then I had a meltdown in their lobby. He passed when I was half a continent away so I had no chance to say my last words to him.

Thunder is SUCH an elegant dog. Rest assured that he is ALIVE and living in the Perfect World, loving you just as he ever did. And one day you will be reunited, never to part again.

God bless you, Thunder.

Gretta and Rufus's mom

Gretta and Rufus' Mom, thank you for your words. I am holding onto the hope that one day Thunder and I will be reunited again.

We had no warning that anything was wrong that day, when he had the first seizure it was the beginning of a medical crisis that he had no hope of surviving. I am still trying to come to an understanding of how it could go so bad so fast...unfortunately there are times when we ask 'why', we have to accept there is no answer....

Again, thank you so much, your words mean more to me than you can ever know.

Shadow Dancer

Hi, Shadow Dancer, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and for sharing this beautiful tribute to your beloved Thunder with us. I know you will forever cherish it.

I do know that when our hearts are entrenched in deep grief there seems very little that can soothe the seering pain of sorrow, even the things that touch our hearts such as this beautiful tribute for your beloved Thunder - - for all we want and yearn for is to be able to see, hear, smell, and touch our beloved companion one more time - - one more lifetime.

Still, I know somewhere there is a place in your heart that is grateful that your beloved Thunder is now at peace in our Loving Creator's arms whole and restored to his former youthfulness patiently waiting for your appropriate time to join him in eternal joy. I have been where you are, Shadow Dancer, and I am here for you, along with our other wonderful forum friends, to share with you the not so bad days, the not so good days, and the days when your heart feels it can no longer endure the heavy burden of your deepest sorrow.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Storm kindly, and that you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Thunder's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Shadow Dancer, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam