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<DIV>It doesn't seem possible. It's been a year since I said goodbye to my
sweet Blueberry, my Berry girl, my big, soft armful of funny,
snuggly, cheeseburger-loving devotion. A year of grief and loss
and emptiness, and then as time started to heal a little, the return of
cherished memories that could bring a smile instead of an ache.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A lasting treasure from this year that I'll always carry with me has been
the amazing love, understanding, and caring support from my Daily Drool
family. You buoyed me with your words, your thoughts, your prayers, your
friendship. That first terrible night, when I couldn't sleep and felt I
couldn't even breathe, I turned on my computer and found more than two dozen
e-mails waiting for me (I had posted to the Drool that afternoon) -- touching,
moving messages that became my life preserver. I read them over and over,
sometimes having to pause because I could no longer see the monitor through my
tears. The thoughtfulness that went into the writing of each one was a
true gift. You knew exactly what I needed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And in the following days, when the dark cloud would not lift, more e-mails
poured in. And beautiful snail mail cards, and notices of donations in her
memory to rescue groups, and presents (a Home Depot gift certificate to buy
a blueberry bush; an exquisite wooden statue of an angel holding a
puppy).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I don't know how I would have made it through without all of you.
Your love wrapped around me in a protective embrace. I printed out every
e-mail and read them over and over. (I still do, because the grief
continues to hit in waves.) I made a scrapbook with every card.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>She was such a special little girl, and it moves me greatly to feel that
she has touched others -- people who she never met, but who felt as if they knew
her through the Daily Drool.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One year since I held her in my arms. But never a moment that I have
not held her in my heart. And that's where I hold all of you, too.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks again to all of you, my lifeline and family. Please remember
Blueberry today -- her eager face, thumping tail, love of every minute of
every day, and the way she always had to be touching me somehow, pressed in
against my side while we slept, co-piloting the car with her chin on my knee,
and on my lap while I worked (I put my computer desk up to the couch so there
would be room). And please give your babies extra hugs today from their
Auntie Beth.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Love,</DIV>
<DIV>Beth (Duchess ATB and Blueberry ATB)
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="12"><I>---------------------------------------<BR>For Duchess and
Blueberry: "You have gone ahead and nothing is the same, leaving paw
prints on my heart that will always remain." <BR>-- Tibetan Proverb from Prayers
on the Wind</I></FONT></DIV></DIV></FONT><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="c3c6c2e5728cda51270c8456f3e75d7"><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/><A HREF=http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222399266x1201456865/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215073777%3B37034343%3Bf>Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop: Now in 6 vibrant colors! Shop Dell's full line of laptops.</A></font></DIV></BODY></HTML>