Goodbye to Tink
On November 10, 2010 I had to say Goodbye to my Girl Tink. She was my first Flat-Coat and the first dog I had owned since I was a child. She was the dog that sent me on the Journey I’m current on. I knew someday I would lose her, but I couldn’t be without her. I see her now everyday in Wendy’s and Morgan’s eyes. I see her when Wendy plays with her puppies. I see her when Morgan refuses to wait on a retrieve. Not a day goes bye I don’t think about her. She passed away almost three months ago, but I’m just now getting to the point of where I can say goodbye.
Tink
Peter
February 2nd, 2011 at 10:50 am
Peter,
I understand somewhat how you feel. We lost Jake December 2, 2010, just two days before my birthday. He was my first Flat-Coat as well. I never could have imagined how amazing a dog could be nor could I have ever dreamed how close a friend he would become. Our new Flat-Coat pup is helping with the healing but it is difficult in that at times I find myself calling him Jake. He was a gift, even if it was for only a short seven years. I still miss him terribly.
I found this quote which has put into words much of what I have been feeling. It has been an encouragement to me and maybe it can be for you, as well as for any others who have been owned by a Flat-Coat:
“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.” Irving Townsend
In His Peace,
Tim
February 2nd, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Dear Peter and Deb,
We are so sorry to see that you lost your beautiful girl Tink. We know that no amount of sympathy can reduce your sense of loss, and we also know how hard it is to discuss it – although the passing of time does eventually make it bearable. Please know that our thoughts are with you in your grief.
When we lost our first Flatcoat, Annie, in 1999, a friend sent us a sympathy card that Corinne has saved. It includes a poem by Ellen Brenneman that we’d like to share.
HER JOURNEY’S JUST BEGUN
Don’t think of her as gone away –
her journey’s just begun,
life holds so many facets –
this earth is only one.
Just think of her as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years.
Think how she must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.
And think of her as living
in the hearts of those she touched…
for nothing loved is ever lost –
and she was loved so much.
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Thank you for the kind words and beautiful poems. I appreciate your thoughts.
Peter
February 9th, 2011 at 5:42 am
Thanks for sharing your post about Tink.
Both Tom and I were stunned by the depth of our grief when we lost Daisy at 11 1/2 years in early December.
Many encouraged me to take a year to grieve for her, but frankly, things didn’t feel right in the house until Lily arrived on the scene. Having a dog back in the house is best for us. Lily has restored equilibrium around here. Am so glad that you get to keep a bit of Tink with you in Wendy and Morgan. Fondly, Candace