My greatest friend and greatest teacher.
The strongest boy I have ever known.
His bold presence, a sign of the size of his heart and capacity to love.
Always loved, never forgotten and forever in my soul.
"You came into my heart one day,
So beautiful and smart
A dear and sweet companion, I loved you from the start
And though I knew the time would come
When we would have to part
You'll never be forgotten,
You left paw prints on my heart ❤️"
DEXTER'S STORY:
My Dexy-boy had a difficult start in life. His first people didn't understand him and he needed to be moved as just a puppy. That unfortunate circumstance though, is what allowed Dexter and I to find each other, as it was meant to be. Immediately it became clear how special he really is! So smart, so loving, so loyal and destined for greatness.
We spent our lives together having adventures, going on road trips, hiking, swimming, tracking, travelling, vacationing at gramma and grandpa's trailer in Parry Sound and hanging out in our motor home; true joy just being together.
Then, the most unfortunate of all experiences happened when he was just 9 years old altering life in a way I could never have expected- in a terrible accident at home he was paralyzed in his rear legs, never to walk again. The promise I made to him, without question, was I would care for him as long as he desired. My only goal in life: that he have as healthy and happy a life as he possibly could.
Life changed, it was different, but it was still our life together. We still did all the things we had always done together, it just didn't look quite the same. Through this time his immense inner strength, his immense love of life and his immense ability to teach others became even stronger.
Though the tragedy he suffered had changed his life in ways some see as so devastating I should "put him down", the support of friends and family allowed Dexter and I to grow immensely in ways I never thought possible; far beyond what the use of his legs had done for his true self prior. If that isn't amazing....I don't know what is!
I knew your time on earth was at an end. We had an amazing last day in the motor home, we went for a wagon ride and then on a road trip to your favorite spot at Lake Joseph. You were so happy, so fulfilled. We spent the evening together, side by side, as we always had. I kissed you goodnight, really knowing it would be the last time and we both faded off to sleep. Your sleep has continued. I was happy you lived your life on your terms, and you choose to leave on your own terms. Peaceful and content. Your family said good bye, sang to you and left you with all of your favorite things: the ball that never left your mouth, the timbits grampa always had for you and of course your all time favorite, cheese!
What you taught me is a lesson no human could have done: you showed me life isn't about the exterior and it is really about your true self. And true self exists even after our time on this earth. Our loved ones remain with us and beside us to guide the rest of our journey on this earth. Were it not for this valuable lesson you taught me, I don't know how I would have managed the loss of your physical presence in my daily life.
Many struggle to believe our animals can communicate with us. They can, we must just open ourselves to the reality- this is Dexter's lesson to share with us all. His message to us: (he sent through our amazing friend Bonnie and her boy Zeus): “Going beyond the exterior is when you see the true essence. My big, bold exterior was but a minute reflection of the immeasurable amount of love in my heart. The necessary use of the cart and the physical restrictions in my last years, did not portray my true capabilities. Always go within to see your full potential.”
I miss him every minute of every day; I talk to him daily; I know he is here to guide me and I am eternally grateful for his presence in my life.
Dexy, you are my sunshine! I love you and feel you in my soul.
Death Is Nothing At All
By Harry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
The strongest boy I have ever known.
His bold presence, a sign of the size of his heart and capacity to love.
Always loved, never forgotten and forever in my soul.
"You came into my heart one day,
So beautiful and smart
A dear and sweet companion, I loved you from the start
And though I knew the time would come
When we would have to part
You'll never be forgotten,
You left paw prints on my heart ❤️"
DEXTER'S STORY:
My Dexy-boy had a difficult start in life. His first people didn't understand him and he needed to be moved as just a puppy. That unfortunate circumstance though, is what allowed Dexter and I to find each other, as it was meant to be. Immediately it became clear how special he really is! So smart, so loving, so loyal and destined for greatness.
We spent our lives together having adventures, going on road trips, hiking, swimming, tracking, travelling, vacationing at gramma and grandpa's trailer in Parry Sound and hanging out in our motor home; true joy just being together.
Then, the most unfortunate of all experiences happened when he was just 9 years old altering life in a way I could never have expected- in a terrible accident at home he was paralyzed in his rear legs, never to walk again. The promise I made to him, without question, was I would care for him as long as he desired. My only goal in life: that he have as healthy and happy a life as he possibly could.
Life changed, it was different, but it was still our life together. We still did all the things we had always done together, it just didn't look quite the same. Through this time his immense inner strength, his immense love of life and his immense ability to teach others became even stronger.
Though the tragedy he suffered had changed his life in ways some see as so devastating I should "put him down", the support of friends and family allowed Dexter and I to grow immensely in ways I never thought possible; far beyond what the use of his legs had done for his true self prior. If that isn't amazing....I don't know what is!
I knew your time on earth was at an end. We had an amazing last day in the motor home, we went for a wagon ride and then on a road trip to your favorite spot at Lake Joseph. You were so happy, so fulfilled. We spent the evening together, side by side, as we always had. I kissed you goodnight, really knowing it would be the last time and we both faded off to sleep. Your sleep has continued. I was happy you lived your life on your terms, and you choose to leave on your own terms. Peaceful and content. Your family said good bye, sang to you and left you with all of your favorite things: the ball that never left your mouth, the timbits grampa always had for you and of course your all time favorite, cheese!
What you taught me is a lesson no human could have done: you showed me life isn't about the exterior and it is really about your true self. And true self exists even after our time on this earth. Our loved ones remain with us and beside us to guide the rest of our journey on this earth. Were it not for this valuable lesson you taught me, I don't know how I would have managed the loss of your physical presence in my daily life.
Many struggle to believe our animals can communicate with us. They can, we must just open ourselves to the reality- this is Dexter's lesson to share with us all. His message to us: (he sent through our amazing friend Bonnie and her boy Zeus): “Going beyond the exterior is when you see the true essence. My big, bold exterior was but a minute reflection of the immeasurable amount of love in my heart. The necessary use of the cart and the physical restrictions in my last years, did not portray my true capabilities. Always go within to see your full potential.”
I miss him every minute of every day; I talk to him daily; I know he is here to guide me and I am eternally grateful for his presence in my life.
Dexy, you are my sunshine! I love you and feel you in my soul.
Death Is Nothing At All
By Harry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
