Lynette Bishop Snell

Dogs are our link to paradise. They do not know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace. –Milan Kundera

 

A Tribute to A Great Companion October 12, 2007

Filed under: Reflections on Life in General — Administrator @ 9:49 am

I have been avoiding this. Partly because I cannot bear to admit Astro is gone. Partly because my feelings have been cryogenically preserved in time and I do not want to light the torch to thaw them out. Mostly because it will mean finality. And I hate finality.

As I was scrolling through my email inbox this morning, I started re-reading the many emails people had written to me after I let them know Astro had died. Suddenly, it hit me.

Their words were the best tribute I could offer. Those who knew Astro truly appreciate our loss. So here is a sampling of what Astro’s friends have said.

Let their words be all the tribute necessary.

Astro was such a great dog. Sorry to hear that he passed away. :(

Lynette I am so sorry, he truly was a great dog. I know how much he meant to your family, I will pray for peace and comfort for you, Tracy and the kids. I am sending all my love, you know he was my favorite dog.

I am so sorry to hear about Astro…I know how hard this is….

I am SO sorry; know how devastating it is to lose a beloved pet…my prayers are with you and yours. Oh…I am so sorry.

No words for now…just sending you love and prayers…Im so sorry!

My heart is broken for you and your family!!! I will pray for you–what a great loss!

Your family is first in our prayers! So sorry to hear about Astro, he was such a good dog.

My heart hurts for you!! I have nothing great and comforting to say . . . I’m just sitting here looking at my fingers trying to figure out how to ease your grief, and I have nothing.

I can’t believe it. Astro was such an awesome dog. I know it is hard, they are like one of our babies. I am also very sad that Astro and Sadie never met. They would have had so much fun. I know that you will miss him.

We do and will miss him, too. You may feel lonely, but you are not alone in your heartbreak. He was a good dog and had the best of families.

Im crying reading this. I know exactly how you feel. Its a terrible feeling and such a loss of a special wonderful member of your family. I still miss Dexter…at least once a day I miss him.

Sorry to hear about your family’s loss of Astro.

I am so sorry about Astro. I keep thinking about him & Murray & how hard this is for you & your family. I am glad that with each passing day, it is getting a little less sorrowful (is that a word?:?) anyway, we have been praying for you! And yes, you are so right, our God is good!

I was so surprised and even more saddened to hear about Astro. I just expected him to have a bit longer with us. I am so sorry – you lost your good ole buddy. He was a sweet, big ole lug. After all, he could have completed removed my nose that Christmas, but instead he just engulfed my face in his big ole playful way. I will miss him too.

Just opened this email. I’m not calling right now because I think
it will be difficult to make words instead of tears. I’m so very
sorry. I hate it for you guys. I know he had a major impact on
your life because he was such a huge personality. As I cry for you
I’m crying for every one of mine I’ve loved and lost. Memories….

Whatever you want to do about getting the puppy is fine. She’s
here waiting and the family is excited about your
family taking her. They’ll have even more of a stitch in their hearts
when they hear that you lost Astro and this puppy has HUGE
paws to fill.

Astro

Thanks, Astro, for being such a joy to so many people.

 
 

Recovery October 11, 2007

Filed under: Reflections on Life in General — Administrator @ 3:29 pm

Slowly but surely, I’m starting to heal. I’ve never been in a situation like this before where I don’t bounce back within a day or two. I am taking advantage of my mom for all she’s worth. I cannot lean over to pick things up, it’s hard to carry something as heavy (or light) as my laptop, and I am out of energy.

I took a shower today for the first time since my surgery on Monday and it just about wore me out. I’m still recovering from it…3 hours ago!

I’m hoping a full weekend of rest and relaxation (and Grandma here to take care of the kids) will only spur my recovery forward.

In the meantime, I think I’ll go back to bed.

Yawn.

 
 

Scooby Dooby Doo!!! October 10, 2007

Filed under: Reflections on Life in General — Administrator @ 10:05 am

Before Astro’s passing, we had already begun to make plans to add to our canine family. Astro’s death has been made a tad easier knowing we are about to get another Ridgeback.

She can never replace our dear Astro, but I know she will fill our hearts in new ways.

Meet Scooby Dooby Doo!

Scooby.jpg

Scooby will come home to live with us next weekend. We hope Astro is smiling down from his spot in heaven, nodding in approval at our new friend.

 
 

In Memorium October 8, 2007

Filed under: Reflections on Life in General — Administrator @ 1:02 am
Astro

Astro
1999-2007

“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
 
 

Heartbreak and Loss

Filed under: Reflections on Life in General — Administrator @ 1:00 am

Tomorrow is a big day for me. I am finally having breast reduction surgery after dreaming of it for many years. I’ve been looking forward to it since I got the approval letter from the insurance company back in August.

My friends have rallied around me, setting up meals for my family, offering to help out with the kids. My parents are here from Florida to help out as well. One friend even made me a “before” and “after” cake of a realistic nature (let your mind fill in the blank). Tomorrow is it.

Then tonight happened.

I went to bed earlier than normal. Exhausted and excited, I quickly fell sound asleep. Around 1 a.m. a loud banging noise woke me up. My husband was jumping out of bed, hollering Astro’s name. I was immediately awake.

Astro had some sort of seizure and within less than a minute, he had passed away. There was nothing we could do. It was quick, he suffered for a few short moments, and then he was quietly, peacefully gone. After sobbing, grieving and getting my mom out of bed, we began to plan for the big day. Now it’s just big for other reasons.

Knowing we could not carry Astro’s body out of the house in front of the kids, Tracy and I struggled to carry him out ourselves tonight. He is now resting in the back of my car.

The problem is, I am going in for surgery and have to leave the house at 7:15 a.m. We left a message for our vet on his cell phone, hoping he would call us back, but he has not. I hope he’ll call early. It’s now 2 a.m. and I am not sure I’ll be able to close my eyes tonight. I know I won’t be able to sleep. And the minutes are going by very slowly.

So for now, we sit, heartbroken and grieving. And lonely.

We will miss you, Astro.