Thank You

Rachael spotted this old tree when we were out driving on the mountain earlier this summer. And this is sort of how I feel: Old, and gnarly, or is it gnarled? But I digress:

Thank you all so very much for your kind words of sympathy on our loss of Soldier. I knew that once I posted about his passing, you would send me love and support. For I have learned over the years that blogger friends are just as much friends as those you have lunch with, those you can touch, those you can hug. Your love and virtual hugs mean just as much. This I want you all to know.  

I developed a special bond with Soldier because he needed special care since he was injured nearly two years ago. And through this process, I learned how to give the special love of a caretaker. This was a good lesson for me, a needed one, that I was happy to take on. So you are right, it will take time for my tears to stop, but he will live in my heart forever. And I still have someone who needs me:

Someone who is pretty high maintenance, who needs to walk for miles before the sun comes over the mountain ridge; someone who has a weird disease, who needs a special diet, who needs eye drops every other day, and vet visits every three months.  Someone who needs to be brushed more often than I want to think about, someone who, for all that, will lick my face, kiss my ear, and give me this great smile in return. 

It doesn't get much better than that!

Thank you from my husband, Samson, and me.