The Gift

Dear Friend,

Matching a puppy with his or her forever family is exciting and fun but sometimes it is part of a healing process.   Over the last year I have been so touched by the depth of the love these remembered and honored pets have received and reciprocated.  It became a shared and heartfelt loss for me as well.  This true piece was remembered and inspired by their legacy.- Lea

My Dearest Friend,

I want to thank you for taking me into your home and heart.  You are my world.  We have had such great fun over the years and shared our lives together.   I have spent my life in your love and friendship.  We have seen each other through times of joy, change and sorrow.  You have cared well for me when I was young or when I got sick or in good health.  I have known when sad things were with you and reminded you that you are not alone, I hope.  We have played and played together forever. I am sorry to tell you I am not well and wanted to share with you something I want.   

My friend Rayne was a beautiful fawn colored Great Dane with a gorgeous black mask over her nose and eyes with white on her chest.  Eventually her mask silvered as time passed to become more white than gray.  When she was young she was the smallest of her family but this child, Cassie, thought she was the best with her shiny eyes, smiling face and a very licky tongue.  Her little puppy body quivered with excitement to be going anywhere with Cassie or no where just as long as they were together.  Eventually they grew up.  Cassie moved on but her little sister Kimmie was there to love Rayne and she loved Kimmie very much because now  it was Kim who talked to her and played with her.  Kim took her on walks and loved her back.   Kim taught an old dog new tricks.  Time passed and Kim grew up.  Oh so slowly Raynie became a little frail and thinner.  She was always pretty thin but she began to be a little too thin.  At first it wasn’t a big deal because she would always fatten up in what Texans call the 'winter months' but not so much recently.  Kim noticed Rayne was becoming weaker  and standing was not so sure although Rayne was always so glad to see her. 

 Rayne had become wobbly when she stood and standing had become quite the enterprise like it had become an ‘iffy’ thing. The pain in her back and hips must have become more and more because I thought I could see it in her eyes and face a time or two.  Not anything to cry about she would tell me, but her balance and appetite were not so good even though she was drinking more and more water.  Rayne also had grown a bump on her side which was growing on its’ own!  Her doctor looked at it and took some tests.  It was not hurting her  -  just growing. 

Recently one fine morning, it was cooler and felt so wonderful with a lot of sunshine!  Blue skies everywhere with a breeze just slight enough to whisper by.   Rayne felt as if the years had dropped away for a moment and just enjoyed playing again. She ran best she could and played with all of us as we cohorted around the back yard.  Kim came out to play with her again as she ran and danced in the sunshine and laughed at how good the crisp air made her feel.

 
 Rayne told me about what a great morning and day she was having just before  she and Kim left.  I never saw her again.  I really miss her all the time but I remember how happy she was that day.  I would ask you for all the wonderful times we have shared to let me have one best day before we  go  together for the last time.  Love me enough to not wait until I cannot remember feeling wonderful or what those first brisk mornings are like early in a fall after the final  long, hot days of summer when it is long after dark before the day really begins to cool.  Let me have a better day to say, “I love you” one last time.  When I am not well, do not wait until . . .
 
With love,

  Your faithful best friend.

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