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<DIV>It seems so unreal that it's been three years without my Blueberry ... my
Berry girl, my Bluesel, my Velcro dog, my love.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Three years ago right now she went to the Bridge, leaving an emptiness that
sometimes still stabs me.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>She had fought so hard to stay with me. Renal failure is an awful,
awful disease, and we tried everything. Four doctors, including a
renal specialist at a vet school; countless treatments; and she was so good, she
just nestled in my arms no matter how painful.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I don't know how we would have found the strength to keep going in our
search for help if it weren't for all of you -- our loving Daily Drool family,
who blessed us with your caring. How you embraced us and nurtured
us. You gave us comfort and understanding and a safe, warm harbor. I
remember the day that, almost delirious with hope, I shared the joyous news that
Blueberry had eaten a cheeseburger! She hadn't eaten anything on her own
in weeks, and then suddenly she ate her very favorite McD cheeseburger.
Only you, my DD family, knew how much that meant, and you flooded us with
e-mails that touched me so deeply.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And then, three years ago right now, I had to write to share the
devastating news that my baby had taken her journey to the Bridge, too too
early. I couldn't sleep that night, and keeping me company were dozens of
DD e-mails that poured in all night long, from around the world, from friends
and from people I hadn't even "met" yet online -- but you were all the family of
my heart, because you understood, you KNEW.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The next weeks would have been unbearable if it hadn't been for all of
you. Cards and gifts came to give me strength through their visual
reminder of your caring. Phone calls and e-mails came just when I needed
them most.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It comforts me greatly to know not just that you care about me, but, most
importantly, that you care about her, that you remember her, that you feel like
you knew her. That makes me feel as though she's still living, carried in
each of your hearts too.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you, all of you. Please think of Blueberry tonight as you
give tummy-rubs to your own houndies. Please remember how she always had
to be touching me -- a paw on my foot; sitting next to me on the couch where I
set up my computer so we could be together; crawling up to sleep on my chest,
resting her head on my neck. Remember her love of cheeseburgers, and ice
cream cones, and chin scratches, and lullabies (they made her sigh and go right
to sleep). Remember her sweetness (never growled once in her life) and
goofiness (when she grinned, her tongue hung down to the floor) and brave little
heart.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I will always love you, my Berry girl, and I miss you every single
day.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Beth H. (Duchess ATB and Blueberry ATB)
<DIV>--------------</DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=3 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12"><I>For
Duchess and Blueberry: "You have gone ahead and nothing is the same,
leaving pawprints on my heart that will always remain." -- Tibetan Proverb from
Prayers on the Wind</I></FONT></DIV>
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