Wednesday
Jul072010
andy ~ April 23, 1997 - July 6, 2010
68 Inspired Comments
oh sweet andy ... sweet 'doo doo'
how my heart aches today...
i keep thinking i hear your little feet, clip, clopping on the wood floor.
i woke up and instantly felt for you at the foot of the bed...
as i have done every morning for so long.
but you are gone....
13 years ago you leaped out in front of the rest of the litter and barked at me.
and i knew you were the perfect dog for us.
despite what i was told...'don't pick the aggressive one in the litter'
it did not matter..
i felt as though ... you picked us that day.
you loved each of us unconditionally.
you wanted nothing more than happiness for all of us.
i'm so glad you were with us thru the storms andy.
your comforting gaze or hug, your wagging tail...
you never judged or scolded or said mean things.
you just listened.
you were such a crazy puppy.
and oh my gosh, you could run, and we could not catch you.
your energy was beyond anything we could have anticipated.
and right to the end you still loved your walks.
you and me.....
it will never be the same sweet boy.
you took a piece of my heart with you.
i love you to the moon....forever and always.
i don't know what i will do without you here andy.
we have been side by side for 13 years.
barely a day were we apart.
you had such personality.
and although some may not have believed me....
you understood every word i said.
you were so much more human than canine.
you loved your spot on the couch....
it allowed you to see both doorways and keep track of the comings and goings.
i loved the way you insisted on that spot...
the way you could talk us right into giving it up for you.
and when we had company you would sit on the floor looking at them in 'your spot'
and i know you were thinking....
'so, when are you leaving?'
i'm so glad we spent this last winter traveling the country side taking pics.
you in the front seat with daddy.
oh how you loved those adventures.
jumping out of the car and sniffing about was such a highlight to you.
and despite your achy bones you would bound your way thru the snow....
determined to get the most out of our adventure.
heck your pic even made it into a national magazine.....
not all dogs can say that. :)
this moment of you looking back at me..... captured what we had.
we were just a pair...never far apart.
i miss you so very much....
i pray my heart will heal.
but for now it feels broken and lonely
and so very sad.
love to you 'doo doo'....
thank you for holding on and being with us for 13 beautiful years.
such a trooper you have been.
forever yours..... mommy.....
Reader Comments (68)
I am new to your blog but your tribute to Andy is beautiful. I have tears in my eyes. I am sorry for your loss. May you find peace and joy in all your memories and beautiful photographs.
Good Morning, Kim,
Oh, I am so sorry to read about the loss of your faithful friend. Our pets love us so unconditionally, and they are such a huge part of our families. My heart hurts for you.
Your post is beautiful. I have tears too. I will keep you in my thoughts. Take care ~Natalie
a beautiful tribute Kim .. I am so sorry for your loss , I have been in this spot twice and it is heartbreaking... your special memories will forever be there ..be very gentle with yourself friend!
(((hugs)))
ELK
Oh Kim, so sorry. Such a beautiful dog with wonderful puppy-eyes, even as an adult. ox
My dear Kim, I am so sorry to hear about Andy. I can imagine how attached you were to him because I know how much I love our dogs. They are such a comfort to us at all times and I pray that your heart will heal from this loss and you'll be able to remember all the funny and good antics that I'm sure he performed for you and your family over the years.
Bless you.
Sharon
What an eloquent tribute to Andy, Kim. My heart breaks for you and your family. Our dogs really are deeply loved family members. Take time to grieve and remember. He earned it and so did you with the love you gave. In time you will be able to rejoice over those memories. The photos you posted are lovely portraits of a good friend. Blessings to you and your family.
I am now leaking tears onto my keyboard. What a beautiful tribute. I am so sorry for your loss and heartbreak. I can feel the love in your words. Peace to you, your family and your beloved canine friend.
The tears are flowing, I feel your loss.
So sorry to hear of your great loss. It is so difficult when we lose a beloved member of our family. My thought and prayers are with you.
hugs, Maureen
I'm so sorry for your loss Kim. Your tribute and pictures are beautiful. We lost our 13 year old Akita this past June. We had him almost as long as my husband and I have been married.
Remember the good memories. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
~Christina~
Tears down my face...I am so sorry, Kim. This tribute was wonderful, he was so well-loved. My dog was also 13 when he passed, your feeling for Andy mirror mine for him. He will always live in your heart, though I know that you will miss him, that companionship, the funny moments they add to life.
I am sending you a long, warm comforting hug, and I will keep you in my thoughts.
xoxo
Kelly
so sorry kim.
it's so very hard to lose a loved one~ even one with four legs instead of two.
if dogs do go to heaven...it sounds like he would be one that made it.
Oh Kim! I'm so sorry! {{{hugs}}}
Kim, I am so very sorry for the loss of your faithful friend. I understand how you reach out automatically to touch them. This was a great tribute, my heart feels for you, sending a hug your way.
Kim, you've lost a great friend indeed. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Oh Kim, I'm so sorry. If I could give you a hug, I would. What a beautiful tribute and memory of your 'baby'. You'll be in my thoughts.
I don't even know Andy and my heart is breaking...you made me cry. But also so in a good way that there is so much love out there in the world and Andy was a lucky dog that got to experience that and had a wonderful life.
Kim...I am so sorry for your beautiful loss.
Lovely tribute.
He'll always be in your heart.
Time will heal.
Lots of hugs and well wishes to you my friend up north.
xoxo
Camilla
So sorry for your loss Kim. I went through the same thing 2 summers ago with our poodle that was 14.She was MY sidekick and beloved best friend to my daughter. The first few days are the hardest. We never ever forget them but you eventually will be able to smile when you think of him, instead of tears.
Big Hugs,
Connie
Such a lovely tribute. Hugs to you, my friend. ♥tlb
a beautiful tribute
xoxox
so sorry for your loss
I'm so sorry for your loss, Kim. *hugs* Thanks for sharing this gorgeous tribute.
oh, the tears are flowing....
i am so sorry for your loss and your broken heart....
our animals are such an amazing part of who we are...
and on andy's day of dying, my sister helped her cat bring 8 new kittens into the world....i'm hoping we can name one of them andy or andie :)
life is precious....
hugs to you my sweet friend....
Dearest Kim,
I don't know what to say. I hope your pain is surpassed by happy memories in the coming days.
Love
Tina
xxxxxxxxx
*gah* the tears... I am so sorry sweetie! What a lovely soul and true friend you had. Big hugs to you through this tough time. xoxo
Thank you for sharing your tribute to Andy. I hope your heart will find comfort in the beautiful memories and images of Andy.
You are in my prayers and thoughts.
There is nothing harder on earth than the loss of a beloved dog.
Weeping here at the kitchen table. I've no idea why this has hit me so hard Kim, perhaps it's that Precious Andy has the sweet humble look of our Ollie...
Or maybe it's that I came to know you this past winter and with all the shots that your Andy was in on Flickr, I felt I knew him too.
Knew him and loved him.
My heart is aching for all of you.
I pray for your comfort my friend.
And I will tell you one thing of which I'm certain...you will see your Sweet boy again.
xoxo
so sorry x
Kim,
Your photos and tribute to Andy are so well written and heart felt.
I am glad that you had such a wonderful friend and companion for 13 years.
charlotte
I'm truly sorry. I know how much he meant to you. I also lost Chloe the American Bulldog we had to kidney disease last month. The pain still lingers as will yours but sweet memories will put a smile on your face and thats what matters in times like this. I will have Chloe help Andy find his way to the rainbow bridge where Andy will be happy and free of pain forever and will wait for you there when you both can be reunited.
What a loving and lovely tribute to Andy. Made me cry.
oh,Kim...what a beautiful tribute...
I am so sorry, Kim. He must have known he was beloved every single moment.
I'm so sorry, Kim!
Sending hugs your way...
thank you all so very much for your heart felt words and support. it truly means so much....
love to all...xxo, kim
Oh Kim so sorry for your loss my daughters moved out a week or so ago and took their pups with them. I miss them so much. Just knowing that they were there was a comfort. I hope you heal to dear.
Kim
Dear Kim,
I am so very sorry that you had to say your goodbyes to your sweet dog.
What a sweet tribute you paid to your best friend.
peace and love,
dana
I am so sorry for your loss...my eyes are filled with tears as I look at the beautiful, touching images and your tribute to Andy. I so understand what you are feeling. They are such a big part of our heart. Thank you for these beautiful words...
My heart is sad....... he was a very lucky doggy, and by the looks of the pictures he knew it and that is all that counts.
Hugs
This just made me cry...
What a wonderful tribute!!!
Oh, this makes me cry and smile at the same time. I'm so sorry for your loss. I know no words can make you feel better. But I also smile because I know that kind of bond myself and I know how much your life has been enriched by your special friend all these years.
what a loving tribute to your good friend, Andy. truely moving and all too familiar emotion, after loving our dear rottie at age 5.
take a deep breath and keep those memories close.
lorraine
I am so very sorry about the loss of your beautiful friend. Your words brought tears to my eyes. Wonderful that you have so many photos to remember him.
Oh, Kim, I am so sorry that your Andy has gone ahead of you. But, you do know don't you, that he will be waiting for you on the bridge...that's where all dogs wait for their humans. You will see him again. BIG hugs to you.
Beautiful, what a lucky dog to have such a loving mom. My heart goes out to you and your family and wouldn't he have just loved his tribute. Hugs and love to your broken heart.
I am so sorry your doo doo Andy is gone. It is so difficult to loose a special pet. For sure they take a bit of our hearts. Hugs are sent to you. I am sure you were an awesome mommy and he loved you for it.
I'm so sorry for your loss Kim.........I've been there and feel your pain. What a BEAUTIFUL tribute to your BELOVED Andy. He has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.......and he will wait for you there.
Hugs,
Lynn
it hurts so much.
sitting here with tears in my eyes.
a beautiful tribute to andy.
hugs, Pauline
so sorry for your loss. Beautiful tribute, made me cry. It's good he had such a loving family.
What a wonderful tribute, I, too, felt that I knew Andy thru your blog. With tears in my eyes, I send you prayers and blessings. Sheila