Please express our deepest sympathies to Robert for his loss. I know
that Oz can never be replaced but I think that the support of his friends
and helping him get another horse to go on with is the expression of a
very special friendship.
In our home we have had to say good-bye to 3 very loved members this
year. Two of them were our family dogs of 15 years,that were loved as
much as our children and one was my husband's horse, York. For all three
we made the only humane decision to put them down, which I am eternally
grateful that we could love them enough to do this. But the pain is still
very acute.
Several of my students understood how deep my loss was and had a plaque
made for me with the following poem. It still brings tears to my eyes,
but it also eases the pain. Please pass it along if you think it may help.
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the
Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow
Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is
always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals
are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play
all day with each other.
There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special
person who loved them on Earth. So, each day they run and play until the
day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose
twitches! The ears are up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly
runs from the group!
You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet,
you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again
and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your
trusting pet.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be
separated.
Every day is a gift from God. May we all realize this and treasure it.
Lynn
Lynn M. Crespo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Pharmacology
Nova-Southeastern University
lynn@alpha.acast.nova.edu