In wood and wild, ye warbling throng,
Your heavy loss deplore;
Now, half extinct your powers of song,
Sweet Echo is no more.

Ye jarring, screeching things around,
Scream your discordant joys;
Now, half your din of tuneless sound
With Echo silent lies.

 

 

 

Eli Fama

9-13-03 -- 7-13-08

 

I have no understanding of the majesty of the workings of this universe of ours.  I cannot conceive of the space of it and the power of it.  I do know that love exists and that capacity for love was born inside us and many times the animals that we share our time with.  I know that animals (in my case most especially dogs) certainly feel that love and like a magic harp the strings of common understanding will tremble with a divine energy and we will know, beyond a scintilla of a doubt. that we are loved in return.

Oh, how fortunate we are!  Oh, how easily this wonderful accident could have never happened!  And now we are called upon to give up the joy and wonderment of your mutual love and have tha5t friend disappear from our lives forever.  He will live on in you heart, you know that but you will have to turn to this world crowded with unloved animals and choose another that can crystallize your reason for being into another grand and loving animal.  At worst, Eli will sleep peacefully forever.  He certainly deserves the ease but there is something terribly heartbreaking about losing such a beautiful and cherished creature.  We may never understand it and certainly we may never recover from the loss but that is the human in us and, dear Carol, that is why you are wonderful!!  You love the creatures and will fill a need

Remember the old Jewish maxim, "Giving is such a blessing!"?  I think that you have given all you are able to give to Eli and his life will you has been wonderfully full.  I know you wanted more.  I understand that and fully sympathize with that hope to delay the grief.  But grief is part of saying goodbye and saying goodbye is part of preparing yourself for another adventure into a relationship with another Doberman friend
You will not replace either Elijah or Eli in that roomy heart of yours.  They have their spot but you do have room for another and another.  Please don't let them wander in the wilderness too long.

Your very good friend sends his very best wishes for Eli and for you on this day of change.  Please understand that you are not alone in your sadness and you will not be alone while you grieve.
Bob