edition 12-08-03

Thank you to all my friends in advance for your sympathy wishes. There will be no updates for awhile.

8-1-89 / 12-8-03
I will always love you.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, 
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; t
hose who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, 
just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content,  except for one small thing; 
they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, 
but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. 
His bright eyes are intent; 
His eager body quivers. 
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, 
and when you and your special friend finally meet,  you cling together in joyous reunion, 
never to be parted again. 
The happy kisses rain upon your face;  your hands again caress the beloved head, 
and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, 
so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together..

Best Friend

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery.
It suddenly dawned on him that he was dead. He remembered dying...and the dog had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them.

After awhile, they came to a high, white stone wall along the side of the road. It looked like fine marble.
At the top of the hill it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate
in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out
"Excuse me sir, where are we?"

"This is Heaven sir," the man answered.
"Wow, Would you happen to have some water?", the man asked.
"Of course, sir, come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The gate began to open...the man said, "Can my friend gesturing toward his dog, come in too?"

The gatekeeper said, "Sorry sir, we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going.

After another long walk, and on top of another hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate
that looked as if it had never been closed.

There also was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside
leaning against a tree and reading a book.

The traveler said, "Excuse me, do you have any water?"
The man said sure and to come on in.
The traveler asked, "How about my friend (dog) can he come in too?"
The gatekeeper said sure.

The traveler then asked what they called this place.
The reply was, "This is Heaven".
The confused traveler told about the place down the road that claimed to be "Heaven" also.

The gatekeeper said, "Oh you mean that place with all the gold and pearly gates?...Nope...that is HELL!"
To which the traveler replied..."Doesn't it make you mad that they use your name like that?"

To which the gatekeeper replied, "No, I can see how you might think so, but we are just happy
that they screen out the folks who will leave

their BEST FRIEND BEHIND".....