Goodbye, My Boy

A year ago I made a decision to welcome a 100 pound, 8 year old golden retriever from Turkey into our lives. And Punch turned out to be one of my best decisions yet. It was love at first site and his calm and sweet demeanour permeated our home. He quickly found his way into the hearts of anyone who met him. My girls adored him and he adored them. Well, we only had the pleasure to know him for a year. I came home one day to see a lump on his head, wondering what he possibly could’ve bumped in to. That lump spread quickly and began to bleed and in just 9 days his eyes were swollen shut and he couldn’t see. It was aggressive cancer. We said goodbye to my sweet boy almost a month ago now. And I still feel the tears close as I write this.

I took some space. I didn’t write. I honoured his passing by taking the time to grieve him. Allowing myself to cry and to feel the sadness of his death. He came to our family with a fear of car rides and became the first to get to the car joining me at work on the farm. He loved his life here. And he left with all the people that he touched around him on a beautiful fall day on the farm.

We all experience loss. And grief. And sadness.  Whether pets or people we’ve loved and lost…I’ve felt these feelings before and I know they’re a part of life. But it certainly doesn’t make it any easier. But I also know time heals. And memories and photographs remind us of the good times. And so I’ll hold those close to my heart. Because I know my sweet boy lived a happy life for the last year of his life. And that will always make me smile.

Hold the people and pets you love close. Tell them how you feel. Life truly is so short.

Wishing you more peace, balance, happiness, vibrant health and lasting love.

Sandy xo