[Dailydrool] Boomer ATB & Belly Rubs & Did He Know?

[lea pierce]

​Houndservant is very, very sure that Boomer doesn't remember the times
when he didn't get a belly rub, and he doesn't remember the last days when
you were unable to see him... Houndservant is very sure he remembers all of
the times he got magnificent belly rubs and treats and laughter from his
Butler & best friend, Mr. Shannon Gerdel.

There is no way around this time of grief, Mr. Shannon. There is no ducking
feeling awful and terrible and wishing you'd had that last belly rub or had
done... whatever. This is normal grief; these are normal feelings about the
ones we have loved so dearly and have lost. There is never a good time to
lose someone; there is never, ever a perfect death, even when death heals
tremendous pain and suffering. And there is never a perfect goodbye.
Closure is very, very rare and in Houndservant's experience, is mostly
earned after the fact.

Grief is circular; first it's the huge tsunami when the rock of death is
thrown into the pool of our life. We are inundated, awash in our pain.

Slowly, though, the circles move outward and become ever larger ripples.
But every so often, the tsunami is followed by an aftershock--such as you
just experienced. There will be more. You will survive them.

The ripples never end. But they do gentle out. So do the aftershocks. And
as that happens, it is possible to see our hounds more and more romping on
that distant shore, in the sunlight, and realize that although we never
feel like we gave enough, they are perfectly pleased as punch to have been
the objects of our love. That's why dogs are so necessary; it is perhaps
the only time when we will consistently, insistently, persistently
experience being received with perfect love.

Keep crying. Keep writing. Spend time with Boomer by looking at his photos,
videos, remembering him, talking about him. It helps to set aside some time
every day or every week to consciously and intentionally remember Boomer.
There is no need to question your grief; it is appropriate and you will
move through it.

You'll never get over Boomer; you will get through his loss to a new place.
A sadder, softer place of gratitude for the gift he was to you--and that
you were to him.

The measure of your grief is the exact measure of your love.

Houndservant​
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