Dickens

It's true, the saying "Tis better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all". We opened our hearts to a cute little fur ball named Dickens whom we got from the animal rescue in Portland, OR several years ago. He died last night and will be missed.

It's funny how a dog can reach the recesses or your heart that no other person can. Those of you who have had a beloved pet know exactly the feeling I'm talking about. We will miss him but are so grateful for the good times we had. He taught us so much and brought us closer as a family as we laughed at his antics. We had been opposed to pets for some time because of the kids' asthma but finally relented. It has been a good experience and Dickens came to our family in a time of great need for healing. He was dubbed our gaurdian angel and that he was. I'm enclosing something from Paul Harvey that I think applies not only to losing a dog but how precious most experiences in life are that so many take for granted or even miss out on today. I couldn't have said it better, here's to you Paul!

STORY: These Things I Wish For You AUTHOR: Paul Harvey

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better. I'd really like for them to know about hand-me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meatloaf sandwiches. I really would!
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him. When you want to see a movie and your little sister wants to tagalong, I hope you'll let her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your "driver" to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom. If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head. I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a girl, and when you talk back to your Mother that you learn what Ivory soap tastes like. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he/she is not your friend. I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma and go fishing with your Uncle. May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays. Hope your Mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through a neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.
... author Paul Harvey