RIVER1/12/96-1/26/07
River is gone. I am brokenhearted to say the very, very least. I am staggered. I find myself on my knees, sobbing into the carpet. I hurt like I've never hurt. I miss him like no one ever. He was River. Riverdog. Big Riv. The Big Handsome. The Big Hairy. Handsome Hairy. Mr. Biggs. Sweetface. Sweetpea. Names, merely names. All of them too small to truly describe who he was, and how he lived. Anyone who ever spent any time with River knows what I’m talking about, and how special he was. I feel so lucky, so blessed to have shared his life; and perhaps that is why I hurt so badly, so deeply. My favorite nickname, although I only used it when describing him to others, is “The Mayor”. All he wanted to do was shake hands and kiss babies. He was the greatest ambassador of good will I have ever seen. His calling in this life was to make others feel good. To let every individual he met know they were special, and worthy of love no matter who they were, what they looked like, or what their limitations might be. He was a better person, as a dog, than any person I have ever known, or will know. I’m sorry if that’s sounds bold, but it’s the truth and he earned it. He was a true bringer of love, and he brought it to me in his every moment. I am so thankful he chose me. I feel so fortunate that I was chosen to be his. I know what we experienced together was singular, and not to be experienced ever again. I keep hearing a quote by Kahlil Gibran in my head, and it helps to carry me through:
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
I can say, without a millisecond of hesitation, that River was my Delight. He lived a full and happy life, he changed me, made me a better man. He taught me, he set an example that I will struggle to live up to, but will be better for every day if I just try to do so. He showed me that we are all bigger than our worldly selves. That we are all just brilliant lights of consciousness blazing thru the cosmos. He was my equal, he wore a dog’s coat.
River, you are my best friend. The best Dog ever. My soulbrother. I will think of you everyday, and miss you more. I know in time I will fill this gaping hole in my heart, but never completely, there’s just not enough love in the world without you in it. I will look forward to the place and time we meet again.
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a River runs through it..."
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
I can say, without a millisecond of hesitation, that River was my Delight. He lived a full and happy life, he changed me, made me a better man. He taught me, he set an example that I will struggle to live up to, but will be better for every day if I just try to do so. He showed me that we are all bigger than our worldly selves. That we are all just brilliant lights of consciousness blazing thru the cosmos. He was my equal, he wore a dog’s coat.
River, you are my best friend. The best Dog ever. My soulbrother. I will think of you everyday, and miss you more. I know in time I will fill this gaping hole in my heart, but never completely, there’s just not enough love in the world without you in it. I will look forward to the place and time we meet again.
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a River runs through it..."
~ Norman MacLean
1 comment:
Missing our best friend hurts so deeply but it is sometimes a blessing that we achieved that love in life. You made me think deeply of my love of my Misha. Thank You! Melissa
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