A Best Friend

[NYTomcat]

What is a best friend? I’m not sure I really thought about it much until today. A best friend is the one who stands by you no matter what. The one who only wants to be with you whenever and wherever they can. The one who looks forward to the time you spend together. The best friend is there no matter whether your rich or poor, healthy or sick, happy or sad, straight or gay. The best friend is the one who never judges you but just accepts you as you are and is happy to have you around. In short your best friend is unconditional love, your best friend is your dog.

 

I lost my best friend today, at the ripe old age of five, an uncontrollable need to chase a woodland creature and a driver without the courtesy of even stopping to express remorse conspired to take the life of my best friend. And I was left to carry what was left of that unconditional love away bloody and broken. The sun shines a little less bright now and the music sounds a little less vibrant. I know those colors and sounds will return but I will always feel the world was lessened today and will never ever be the same.

 

I don’t know why I am posting this. Maybe I need to show my best friend that I cared, Maybe you people are the only other people who I feel have ever accepted others as unconditionally as my best friend did me. Maybe I just don’t know what else to do. No matter why, cherish the things in your life that give you these feelings, because like all things… they are fleeting.

[Boston Guy]

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. My condolences.

 

BG

[+ glutes]

I am terribly sorry at your loss NYTomCat. The idiocy of the driver that didn't stop makes it even more a loss. I gather your friend was four legged, canine or feline I don't know.

We have (or had) a MF member named skrubber who posted about the loss of his best friend also (not as traumatic), I will see if I can resurrect the threat to provide some solace.

[doitb4ugo]

So Sorry

 

I am really sorry for your loss and feel for you in your grief. I understand the love of a cherished pet and feel for you.

 

Your posting was very moving and a reminder of how life deals everyone both happiness and sadness in measure.

 

We who love you share your sorrow and wish we we able to better console you at this time.

[+ Oliver]

... I lost my best friend today ...

 

One big hug for you from me.

[Cooper]

Sorry for your loss....

 

ONE MAN'S SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A DOG

 

The one absolutely unselfish friend that

a man can have in this selfish world,

the one that never deserts him,

the one that never proves ungrateful

or treacherous, is his dog.

 

A man's dog stands by him in prosperity

and in poverty,

in health and in sickness.

He will sleep on the cold ground where

the wintery winds blow,

and the snow drives fiercely,

if only he may be near his master's

side. He will kiss the hand that has no

food to offer, he will lick the sores

and wounds that come in encounter with

the roughness of the world. He guards

the sleep of his Pauper master as if he

were a prince.

 

When all other friends desert,

he remains.

When riches take wings and reputation

falls to pieces, he is as constant in

his love as the sun in it's journey

through the heavens.

If misfortune drives the master forth

an outcast in the world, friendless

and homeless, the faithful dog asks

no higher privilege than that of

accompanying him to guard against

danger, to fight against his enemies.

 

And when the last scene of all comes,

and death takes the master in it's

embrace, and his body is laid away in

the cold ground, no matter if all other

friends pursue their way, there by the

graveside will the noble dog be found,

his head between his paws, his eyes sad,

but open in alert watchfulness,

faithful and true, even in death.

 

 

-From a speech given by

Former Senator George Graham Vest

of Missouri. Delivered in 1870 when he

was acting as a lawyer in a suit against

a man who had killed the dog of his

client. -- He won the case.

 

*****************************************

[Guest greatness]

oh my

 

I'm so sorry NYTomcat. I hope your friend rest in place.

[NYTomcat]

ONE MAN'S SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A DOG

 

The one absolutely unselfish friend that

a man can have in this selfish world,

the one that never deserts him,

the one that never proves ungrateful

or treacherous, is his dog.

 

A man's dog stands by him in prosperity

and in poverty,

in health and in sickness.

He will sleep on the cold ground where

the wintery winds blow,

and the snow drives fiercely,

if only he may be near his master's

side. He will kiss the hand that has no

food to offer, he will lick the sores

and wounds that come in encounter with

the roughness of the world. He guards

the sleep of his Pauper master as if he

were a prince.

 

When all other friends desert,

he remains.

When riches take wings and reputation

falls to pieces, he is as constant in

his love as the sun in it's journey

through the heavens.

If misfortune drives the master forth

an outcast in the world, friendless

and homeless, the faithful dog asks

no higher privilege than that of

accompanying him to guard against

danger, to fight against his enemies.

 

And when the last scene of all comes,

and death takes the master in it's

embrace, and his body is laid away in

the cold ground, no matter if all other

friends pursue their way, there by the

graveside will the noble dog be found,

his head between his paws, his eyes sad,

but open in alert watchfulness,

faithful and true, even in death.

 

 

-From a speech given by

Former Senator George Graham Vest

of Missouri. Delivered in 1870 when he

was acting as a lawyer in a suit against

a man who had killed the dog of his

client. -- He won the case.

 

*****************************************

 

Thank you all so much. Cooper , you fuck I finally got the tears away and boom. Thank you cooper That was my baby no doubt and true to the end. That end was just way to soon. Only the good die young. I guess thats why all us old coots are gonna be posting here forever. LOL

 

Of course I've been told I am very very good by more than one man so.... maybe my time closer than I know. There's nothing like humor even when inappropriate it makes you feel alive.

 

"M'Lynn, you just missed the chance of a lifetime! Half o' Chiquapin Parish'd give their eye teeth to take a whack at Ouiser! " Steel Magnolias

[dapurplebear]

NYTomcat --

 

It is awful! so sorry for the loss you feel.

 

You are right - the the unconditional love that my dog shows me is staggering --

 

I screw up in life -- I make things more difficult for my wife, my kids -- BUT no matter -- my dog loves me always -- I can stand there are yell and scream but she is there -- it has been a while since I had a pet -- growing up -- and we rescued our dog about 15 months ago from a kill shelter in TX -- they shipped her up to New England and the moment she and I saw each other - it was like - something that cannot be described --

 

Last night I let her out to do her business before bed -- she has jumped the back fence to chase deer before - but never on me -- I left her alone to do... - though always told not to -- she didn't come back -- I freaked -- I put on my coat - ran out in the snow -- flashlight -- etc. -- I was devastated -- thank GOD -- she appeared back inside the fenc e-- I was so angry at her -- the power of that unconditional love -- it is such a security blanket - and the thought of losing it -- terrible -- I totally get what you are feeling--

 

all I can say is that as tough as it is now -- the opportunity to foster it again will present itself --

 

I always talk about the experiences of life as a pendulum -- it swings equa-distant both ways - good and bad -- some people's swing is not that broad -- others the highs are unbelieveable, but the risk of the lows being devestating are possible --

 

though it is a low right now -- remember how much she enabled those amazing moments of total acceptance and love...

 

as your tag line reminds us -- Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death

 

Feast on NYTomcat! and don't forget to thank your dog for providing some of the food!

[JackTwist]

I Just Said a Prayer for You.

 

NYTom, I grieve with you today and just said a prayer for you, that you would sense the love of your friends today and that our love would bring you some comfort, solace and peace. Losing our dogs (best friends) can be as painful as losing a human family member. Our pets are a gift from heaven, but we never get to keep them nearly long enough. YOU are in my thoughts today, bud.

jt

[NYTomcat]

Thank you Pbear and to another broeadway lover Im sitting listening to Jerry Herman "Time Heals Everything" and I know it will, just not tonight. But you are right and Id rather hit the heights around here and suffer these lows than live the mediocre. Thank you all again for your thoughts, I really just needed to have that ode to my little girl, may she rest in peace.

 

Thanks Jack, I really appreciate that and you

[+ purplekow]

Tom, I am very sorry for your loss. I sat for 10 minutes thinking of something else to say, but I came up with nothing. I am very sorry for your loss.

[+ glutes]

From the Pets Ten Commandments:

 

Life would be much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters...

We do not have to wait for heaven to be surrounded by Hope, Love and harmony.

It is here on earth and has four legs.

 

From Glutes:

 

Why can't our 4 legged friends live as long as we do?

[Racketjock]

I am very sorry for your loss and sadness. Sounds like he lived a life where he was loved.

 

warm hug,

RJ

[Lookin]

I'm so sorry for your loss. What you still have left though is priceless: a heart full of love for another being. It will always stay with you and will do you endless good. Your friend gave you a lasting gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[justaguy]

Tom,

I can't possibly imagine what going through that felt like, still feels like. My sympathy.

[josephga]

What is a best friend? I’m not sure I really thought about it much until today. A best friend is the one who stands by you no matter what. The one who only wants to be with you whenever and wherever they can. The one who looks forward to the time you spend together. The best friend is there no matter whether your rich or poor, healthy or sick, happy or sad, straight or gay. The best friend is the one who never judges you but just accepts you as you are and is happy to have you around. In short your best friend is unconditional love, your best friend is your dog.

 

I lost my best friend today, at the ripe old age of five, an uncontrollable need to chase a woodland creature and a driver without the courtesy of even stopping to express remorse conspired to take the life of my best friend. And I was left to carry what was left of that unconditional love away bloody and broken. The sun shines a little less bright now and the music sounds a little less vibrant. I know those colors and sounds will return but I will always feel the world was lessened today and will never ever be the same.

 

I don’t know why I am posting this. Maybe I need to show my best friend that I cared, Maybe you people are the only other people who I feel have ever accepted others as unconditionally as my best friend did me. Maybe I just don’t know what else to do. No matter why, cherish the things in your life that give you these feelings, because like all things… they are fleeting.

 

I know how you feel. I had to have my dog of 10 years put to sleep a few months ago. he suffered from joint and bone disease during his final year.. I'm still not over it and cry over him at least once a week. some don't understand it but I loved that dog more than any human being iv every come in contact with.

[Mark Gordon]

I'm so sorry to hear of the tragic loss of your friend.

[Alan]

I join all the others is feeling your loss and suffering too in remembrance of dogs we have lost. What a terrible shame. My thoughts and good wishes go out to you in your time of suffering and pain. May you work through this loss remembering the great fun times you had with your best pal.

[EXPAT]

So sorry for your loss :-(

[Okliehomo]

Devastating.

 

I know that I have a reputation for being a cry baby around these parts, but your loss did, in fact, choke me up.

 

Because I know what it is like to see the thing that you love most of all in the whole fucking world run head long into disaster... just because she saw a guy across the very busy street.... just because she always knew that everyone in the whole fucking world was just there to see her.... and they were, right? So, I am standing there, frozen and she is just past me in an instant.... who opened the door? She was in the bed, for God's sake... how is this happening???? And I knew in that moment that I was helpless.... so I just turned around (because I couldn't actually watch it) and I just screamed her name.... then I heard a bump and a yelp and when I turned around.... she was against the curb, all the life gone, a little patch of fur and bone in the leaves and the dirt.... I ran down there, picked her up and cradled her (she was my baby!!!) and rushed her off to the Vet. Just begging and praying.

 

I remember being in that room, waiting... just making every deal that I could make with God... and so angry... like losing my Dad wasn't enough... like losing my Mother wasn't enough.... like having cancer wasn't enough...... now, you are taking all I have left??? Am I just not supposed to love anything without you killing it???

 

Well, about an hour later, the Vet brought her to me.... alive, not a scratch on her anywhere... WTF??? except that they did have to shave her tiny little front leg to put in an IV... did I mention that she weighs 5 lbs??

 

I say all of this to say... in that one moment when I knew for sure she was dead, it was the scariest moment of my whole life. It's the one that I still wake up thinking about, the one that I can still see so clearly that I sometimes just have to close my eyes until it passes.....

 

So, NYT, while I got unexplainably lucky two years ago in February, I sincerely want you to know that I get it..... 110% and then some.

 

And that I am deeply sorry for the loss of your companion, your baby and your best friend,

 

 

Okie

[gp0560]

Love, Joy, Grief, Happiness, Loyalty, Sorrow

 

NYTomcat, I can't add much more to the sympathy we are all trying to express to you, but the following has always brought me both a trembling smile and a trembling lip when I remember a certain special dog. It hurts my heart, but it helps. May it do the same for you.

 

 

Who Am I?

 

I love my master;

Thus I perfume myself with

This long-rotten squirrel.

 

I lie belly-up

In the sunshine, happier than

You ever will be.

 

Today I sniffed

Many dog butts—I celebrate

By kissing your face.

 

I sound the alarm!

Mailman come to kill us all!

Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

 

I lift my leg and

Whiz on each bush. Hello, Spot—

Sniff this and weep.

 

Sleeping here, my chin

On your foot—no greater bliss—well,

Maybe catching cats.

 

The cat is not all bad,

She fills the litter box

With Tootsie Rolls.

 

My human is home!

I am so ecstatic I have

Made a puddle.

 

Look in my eyes and

Deny it. No human could

Love you as much as I do.

 

I am your best friend,

Now, always, and especially

When you are eating.

[rvwnsd]

I am sitting here with tears welling up in my eyes thinking about you and your helpless little friend. He does not know why, but I just woke my little best friend with a great big hug. It was really all I could think of doing. I am so sad for both of you.

[body2body]

I am sorry for the loss of your wonderful companion. After reading your post, I went downstairs, and found my four legged friend, called her to come sit in my lap, and spent the next twenty minutes just rubbing her tummy, and letting her know how much I love her. Thank you for reminding me not to take for granted our special relationship. I regret it took your tragedy to do so.

[Guest greatness]

you are so sweet

 

I don't think my cat will want to be rubbed that long. He bites if I rub him too much. Yes they are special~~. Anyways, NYTomcat, your friend will be in a good place so take some rest. Your friend will be sad if you are depressed too. He will want you to gain strength and happy.

 

I am sorry for the loss of your wonderful companion. After reading your post, I went downstairs, and found my four legged friend, called her to come sit in my lap, and spent the next twenty minutes just rubbing her tummy, and letting her know how much I love her. Thank you for reminding me not to take for granted our special relationship. I regret it took your tragedy to do so.