Sharing the loss

Yesterday we said our final goodbyes to this little guy.  It's hard now to remember that he once looked like this: his coat, when he grew up, was all white, and his tail, which you can see quite clearly here, all but disappeared into his fur as he matured.

I walked around the yard when we got home from the vet's office, picking up the last of the poop and dismantling all the extra fencing we installed to help him find his way around in his latter years, since he was blind.

It's never easy to lose a pet, and this was no exception; 13 years of loving and caring creates a permanent niche in your heart, and the ache when that niche is emptied is pretty painful.  But life goes on, responsibilities continue, and the work of healing begins right away, aided by all the friends who know and sympathize. This is one of those universal human experiences, and sharing it builds bonds even in places where you might think none could exist.  Almost everyone knows this particular ache well; I'm grateful for all the hugs...