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| Mike |
At the time that old dog Nellie left us (March 2019), her ashes were delivered in a little wooden box with a slide out bottom. I set it on the hutch and there it stayed for a year and a half, but as we planned for Elderberry Fest at the farm with Nick and Hallie, I decided we should take the opportunity to find a spot to serve as Nellie’s grave.
So, on Day 1, Mike dug a small hole under the pines on the south bank of the pond. It seemed a fitting location because Nellie loved the pond and would play there for hours, but it’s hard to dig in that clay. We decided it wasn’t necessary to go deep.
On the afternoon of Day 2, we carried the box of ashes and several candles to the gravesite. Hallie lit the candles. Mike gave a nice eulogy, mentioning what a hardworking hunter Nellie had been, including her unique ability to retrieve two birds at one time, if necessary. She also had a sweet temperament and was a good pet.
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| Hallie and Mike |
I spoke about her willingness to be my dog, too. She was an intuitive, personable dog. Hallie quietly shed a few tears, remarking that Nellie was just the dog she needed at the time she came to us. Even though Hallie was leaving the nest to find her own world just as Nellie joined us, Nellie and Hallie were always best buddies.
I just didn’t know, all these months later, that it would still be so hard to say goodbye.
Next step: Find a nice marker. KW
5 comments:
RIP Nellie. ❤
Love never goes away even when the loved one does.
Hallie, so true. We had a beagle for 16 years when the kids were growing up and I can still get teary remembering Copper. When my dad was quite old, he still remembered his childhood dog.
Pets give such pure, simple love. If you ever feel down, just think of the blessing of a furry companion. 😊
And Chris, I remember your dad as one who loved his dogs. Mike fondly recalls his childhood dog -- Corky, a Boston Terrier. They got her when he was four, and she was his companion. She died when he was a senior in high school. She raised that boy and her work was done.
Well, when the care of your pet becomes a challenge, there's a certain acceptance that you must say your good-byes. Bess still greets the day with such enthusiasm, and that's what you want.
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