My goodness, you are one hell of a writer! You've got me crying, not only for your joy and grief, but for my own memories of these same stories in my own, now, long life. It is these instances, and many more like rhem that make life so sweet. Thank you.
Thank you for expressing it so beautifully ... from a father, grandfather & dog-lover who has experienced those same moments of incomparable joy & grief.
To have a dog is to expect to outlive it. Compared to humans they live short lives and one must keep that in mind.. Their time in your life is transitory at best. The idea that you and the fido will grow old together is fantasy and I think demeaning to the dog.
Your child should outlive you and your grandchild should outlive you and your child. You are their dog. You will be in their lives for a time and then not. You will have lived an entire life they know nothing about, having been aware of you for only a portion of their lives. They will know nothing of you as a child or a young man. Your grandchild will know nothing of you as child, a young man, or most of your adult life. They will live lives that you will never know anything about. They will know of you but not know you. Just the role you play in their lives. So it goes.
In his 30 seconds of Facetime on Around The Horn, the sports writer Frank Isola talked about something similar with his dog and said "Every day is a great day, until the last day."
Saying goodbye to my dog was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I will have to do it again sometime in the future and it will be 100x worse, but until then, every day is a great day.
I hope you find catharsis in your written words. We would agree that emotions are not tools of cognition, but they are powerful forces that give life great value. Today, your stories did that - thank you for writing.
The love from a pet is truly one of life’s greatest experiences. We love them like family, because they are part of our family. The best way to get through these difficult times is to remember all the absolute love and joy they brought us.
Mr. Bradley, I had the exact same reaction to holding my granddaughter for the first time. I trembled with fear that I might drop her. Interesting. I wrote about it here.
My goodness, you are one hell of a writer! You've got me crying, not only for your joy and grief, but for my own memories of these same stories in my own, now, long life. It is these instances, and many more like rhem that make life so sweet. Thank you.
Many thanks, Russell. Much appreciated.
What a beautiful and heart-rending essay.
Thank you for expressing it so beautifully ... from a father, grandfather & dog-lover who has experienced those same moments of incomparable joy & grief.
Dan Sullivan
Thanks, Dan. Much appreciated.
umm no.
To have a dog is to expect to outlive it. Compared to humans they live short lives and one must keep that in mind.. Their time in your life is transitory at best. The idea that you and the fido will grow old together is fantasy and I think demeaning to the dog.
Your child should outlive you and your grandchild should outlive you and your child. You are their dog. You will be in their lives for a time and then not. You will have lived an entire life they know nothing about, having been aware of you for only a portion of their lives. They will know nothing of you as a child or a young man. Your grandchild will know nothing of you as child, a young man, or most of your adult life. They will live lives that you will never know anything about. They will know of you but not know you. Just the role you play in their lives. So it goes.
Woof Woof
Your essay is both heartfelt and insightful. Thank you for sharing your feelings and your thoughts.
And congratulations on welcoming your first Grandson.
Congratulations! and condolences.
In his 30 seconds of Facetime on Around The Horn, the sports writer Frank Isola talked about something similar with his dog and said "Every day is a great day, until the last day."
Saying goodbye to my dog was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I will have to do it again sometime in the future and it will be 100x worse, but until then, every day is a great day.
I hope you find catharsis in your written words. We would agree that emotions are not tools of cognition, but they are powerful forces that give life great value. Today, your stories did that - thank you for writing.
Thanks, Anthony. The Isola quotation is wonderful.
So sorry for your loss. But happy for your grand baby ❤️ life is strange, it gives and it takes. May your joys outnumber your grief
The love from a pet is truly one of life’s greatest experiences. We love them like family, because they are part of our family. The best way to get through these difficult times is to remember all the absolute love and joy they brought us.
Our thoughts are with you.❤️
Mr. Bradley, I had the exact same reaction to holding my granddaughter for the first time. I trembled with fear that I might drop her. Interesting. I wrote about it here.
https://ronaldbaron.substack.com/p/holding-hattie
Thanks!
I agree with Dan.
I had the same experience when our first (and all the others) was held by my wife and she became "Grandma."
We lost our Westie not long after.
Thank you.