Dad of Lulu - sweet Lulu has crossed The Bridge

I am so touched to read about your plans for Lulu's tree and her path. For those of us who are lucky enough to share our lives with retrievers, I think there is no place where we feel any closer to their shining spirits than when we are outdoors walking the trails where they loved to run and sniff and explore. In my heart of hearts, I do believe they return to join us in those spots. Here is one of my favorite poems. It helped me a great deal during those first walks after we released our boy. And to this day, I still call my Barkis to walk alongside me on those mornings that dawn especially fine. I will be thinking of you and Lulu as you walk her trail today.

We have a secret, you and I
that no one else shall know,
for who but I can see you lie
each night in fire glow?
And who but I can reach my hand
before we go to bed
and feel the living warmth of you
and touch your silken head?
And only I walk woodland paths
and see ahead of me,
your small form racing with the wind
so young again, and free.
And only I can see you swim
in every brook I pass
and when I call, no one but I
can see the bending grass.

Author Unknown

Marianne

So sorry to hear of your heartache.....
Hugs, Leah

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to read that you have lost your beautiful girl. She had a wonderful life with you. Hugs and prayers to you and your wife. My deepest sympathy.

Tina and Jasper

Thanks Marianne for your thoughts on my Lulu path or trail, I especially want to note the shortcut she had from our old hay field to between one of three tall Douglas Firs we had planted when we moved here in 1999. I would tell Lulu to follow the Lulu path and she usually would.

My wife and I love the poem. It was very fitting. It will be one of our favorites from now on!

I love all your ideas for tributes to your Lulu and I am sure hoping you hear good news about the position you interviewed for.

Lulu had another path, one here on K9 Cushings and we all followed her along that path. Thank you for sharing her with us and thank you for being such a great dad to her.

Thanks Addy and I think Lulu knew I had an important day, as she saw me get dressed that morning. I think she knew her time was nigh and waited till I came back that afternoon. My wife said she was having a hard time getting comfortable wanting to switch from foam bed to foam bed, as we had two on the floor and she would go for the closest one when she came in from outside.

I'm so sorry to hear of your heartbreaking loss. My thoughts are with you. Hold the memories of Lulu close. Hugs to you and your family.

I was very shocked and saddened to hear of Lulu's passing. I was out with friends last night and checked here quickly, the news bought tears to my eyes. She seemed like such a graceful old girl, approaching the world with her quiet ways, and your support of her was truly inspiring. I am truly sorry for your loss, please know that we are all here for you. I do hope that you and your wife will be able to treasure the memories you have of Lulu's wonderful spirit. Take care.

So very sorry to hear of your loss. I really like the pic from Christmas - she looks so regal.
Thinking of you and your family

Thanks all. I did my treadmill exercises. The last time I did them on Thursday I did them with Lulu in the basement, though she usually likes to go outside. So I put one or beds outside, before we got the snow and let her sit on her mat for 10 minutes, and I could see her there. She seemed very much at peace out in the sunny cold weather.

It wasn't as hard physically as I have continued to lose a bit more weight, as I had gained 10 at Christmas time and now down 7 lb. Mentally it wasn't too bad, but emotionally I was a wreck. I thought of her, spot on her basement mat and outside. But I think it is part of the healing.

I found this book available on Amazon, but also available as an E-Book, though it costs 17 dollars, I think it might be what I need I can read on my KindleFire. Here is the EBook link, I wonder what others think. I think I am more of a wreck then I was on Friday. http://petlossguide.com/

But I really believe in the afterlife and someway we will see our past pets. You know they are at peace and still love us, and we love them, so I don't know what the problem is, but it is!

On the job front I wrote a thank you letter to Mark yesterday and got this back from him. So maybe this will happen, I don't know.

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

Bob,



I’m so sorry to hear about your yellow Labrador’s passing. We had a black lab who died at only 11 years of age about 6 years ago, and he is still missed to this day. My dad hasn’t had a dog to replace him since. I forgot to ask: is it just you and your wife who live in your house, or do you have kids? My wife and I only have two cats and no kids.



I can’t speak for the entire school district or Superintendent/Asst. Superintendent who are both close with Mark W., but I think your programming skills and flexibility would be well worth an interview – to see who else is applying. I don’t know if we have any administrators or people with past tech director experience applying. So I can only vouch for what I know about you. You seem to be a perfectionist and would have the time to devote to the position, and seeing things through – instead of not returning phone calls and being the type who is all talk and no action. I’ve seen that in the past, and we need someone whose actions speak louder than words. Just my opinion.



Please let me know how the application process works. I have never applied for a job as an outside applicant, using our web-based system. Let me know how the experience is, and when your interview date is as a result, assuming you get one. I’d like to know. I will hopefully be on the committee to hire to the Tech Director. I was never on the previous committees.



Good luck to you,



Mark