Dad of Lulu - sweet Lulu has crossed The Bridge

Well, watched a movie 'The Champ', though I missed parts, so Moo DVRed it. This is the 1931 with Jacky Cooper, what a great boy actor he was!

Well, I have to tell all here the card I got from my step-dad, my late mom's second husband, and 97, remarried in Palm Harbor, Florida. I had told my new step-mom Marian, Bill married soon after my mom passed, that I had lost Lulu, they had driven up here in 2007 when my mom passed away in Spring Hill, Florida and saw Lulu.

"Hi, Bill said for you to name a dog after him." and sent 20 dollars. That was sweet. I don't how we will incorporate that, since Moo has already decided she wants to name a new dog Stella, she picked out Lulu's name, before Lulu showed up at our pond at 5 or so months of age. :)

Happy Anniversary to you and Moo. Bittersweet I would think with the recent loss of beautiful Lulu. Your posts are so thoughtful and I really think will be of help not only to yourself in writing them down but also to others who go through the same. So I do hope you stick around as you contribute so much with your writings. Lots of hugs to you and Moo xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi everyone, my name is Moo. I am Married to Bob. I was privileged to be Lulu's Mommy.
I just wanted to come on for a minute and tell you all, just how greatful I am for each and everyone of you. You all have been so helpful to Bob while we were dealing with Lulu's Cushings. No doubt, you all made Lulu's last couple of years better than it would have been with out your advice. The support here is top notch. We began to put more credence in what you all said about Lulu's health, than we did the VETS. Thank you all so much.

I also wanted to thank you all for the support you have given Bob since Lulu got her wings. I can not tell you how hard we have taken her passing. She was our child. We did everything with her in mind. She was so woven into the fabric of our lives, and now we feel she has been ripped away, and our lives are left in shambles. I know it will get better, because it could not get any worse. I so look forward to the day when we can get another baby. If Bob finds employment, we will be able to do that. We can not afford another dog, without a job.
Until that day, we will have to find away to get by without a dog in our lives. The night Lulu Left us, was the first time I have not had a dog in my home in over 41 years, so it is really tough. Please keep us in your prayers, as we will keep you in ours. Once again, thank you for all of your kindness.
Lulu's loving Mommy,
Moo

Hi Moo and welcome to the family, although you have always been part of it through Bob and Lulu :D:D I am so sorry for what you are going through right now, such sorrow and stress for you both. You both seem like such nice people so I am sure you are holding each other up as you get through each day. Please come in and post anytime you like, someone is usually here at most hours of the day and night if you want a chat or a vent or a howl at the moon! Your girl was so special, I just spent a bit of time going through her photo album, she is beautiful, she sure loved the snow and her cat buddies!

Trish xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks Trish, I also added an easier link to get to her photos here too. More later.

Trish,
thank you so much for your love and support. Bob and I are so grateful. It is times like these when we all need to stick together.

That which does not kill me, will make me stronger....I hope. :)

Moo

I haven't been on the site in a while....so sad to hear that Lulu has crossed over the bridge. Just keep thinking of all the happy moments she left you all with and that she will be watching down over you & your wife.

Our thoughts are with you & your wife.

Jeanne, Al & Mini-Me

Dear Moo,

You are as much a part of our family here as Bob and Lulu....you are Lulu's Mom therefore a sister to us all. I am so glad you feel comfortable enough to talk with us about your pain - a pain many of us know only too well.

They say time cures all wounds but that isn't quite true. Rose Kennedy said, "...The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.” I have found this to be true in my life. Some wounds scar over quite solidly but the scar is still evident. Other wounds heal but remain ever so sensitive, easily reopened to weep again. The key is not to avoid the pain but to embrace it as proof of our love, our enduring love. Our tears wash our Souls, refreshing it, strengthening it, giving us the power to take the next steps in front of us. Our tears are a badge of honor for our babies.

When the time is right for a new baby in your lives, you will know it. One day some little soul will look into your eyes and you will simply know that this baby has been waiting just for you. In the meantime, you could foster for a rescue or shelter in your area. They are always desperate for foster homes. Most rescues will pay for all expenses other than feed and, of course, the love and training you would supply. And who knows....one of those babies in need of a furever home just might turn out to be that baby who has been waiting for you. Sharing the tremendous love you and Bob have to give might help your wounds heal a tiny bit.

Please know we are here any time you wish to talk.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

i just went through all of the pictures of your lulu and the rest of the furry family.she shared a wonderful,loving,fun filled life with all of you here on this earth.take comfort you gave her all, as she gave you her all always.she will be forever missed and near and dear to your hearts...sending you love,light and peace...patty(milo)meka xoxox

Thank yoy Leslie.
I am so grateful for all the support and good advise that comes from here. Rose Kennedy was soooo right.I will never get over the loss of our Lulu, but ( know in time the pain will be less.

Ya know I have given some thought to fostering. The only thing that worries me is. I don't know if I could give them up when the time comes. I am such a sap for a sweet face.

I think the best thing to do for now, is just live with the pain and Pray that Bob gets full time work, so we can afford a dog, if we do find one that we want to share our lives with. Ya know, Lulu was a gift from God. I told Bob, the next dog we get, I want it to be a yellow female Lab, and I want to name her lulu, within the Month, Lulu just showed up on our property. I named her Lulu and the rest is history. I thanked God for her everyday. And I still do. Ya never know, another one may show up, and if she does, I'll name her Stella and she'll be ours, for as long as God see's fit.

Thank you again Leslie, for making me feel so at home here.
Moo

That is so weird that she turned up like that. Almost like a gift!

Flynn came into my life unexpectedly too, I had never had a dog in my life till he arrived. I found him as a 6 month old pup running in traffic on a busy road. I rescued him and took him to the shopping centre nearby, but noone came to get him so I took him home :D:D My family called me a dognapper!!! But the next day I did take him to the SPCA to try and find his owner, but no-one appeared over the next week so mine he became and I have loved him ever since :D:D Some of our fur babies come into our lives in mysterious ways and they leave such an imprint on our hearts. There must be a reason they just appeared like Lulu and Flynn, I think they are looking for their soul family and by crikey they are lucky they found us and we are even more lucky they picked us to stay with. Smart girl your Lulu :D

Oh Trish, I am so glad you got Flynn almost the same way we got Lulu. I think the ones we get, just out of the blue like that, are truly meant to be, don't you? I think Lulu was looking for us, and thank God she found us. I truly believe we were meant to be together, just like you and Flynn. I just pray that Flynn gives you as much love and pleasure as Lulu gave us.
Moo

Oh he does give me lots of fun, pleasure and love in his own little terrier way :D He is not a smoochy dog, won't sleep in my bed or cuddle much on the couch, hates being kissed, but will happily kiss me when he feels the time is right haha usually just after he has eaten something stinky like fish! I have had him 11 years now so know all his funny ways he is such a great companion and I worry so when he is sick, as we all do. He is at his most happiest up the beach, eating, running, going on walks, digging holes in my lawn, absolutely destroying his toys, visitors, his Nan and Grandad. What did Lulu like to do?

Trish xxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps I was just playing with him on my bed with his very sorry looking chewed up toy collection, I just took a photo for you and will pop it in my album

Oh Trish I just went over to your album and looked at your little guy. He is adorable. A real gift from God. He sounds like a real character. I love Terriers. I have had 2 westies, and they were so much fun, both rescues, one lived 16 years the other 14. I was so blessed to have them both.

Lulu was a real character in her youth too. She also loved to roll in smelly things. We have a good sized pond and she loved to go out there and roll in a dead fish if she could find one. We fed the fish every night,and she had to have some of the fish food. I think she loved to eat more than anything. Of course the cushings may have played a big part in that. We had to watch her or she would run her tounge up over the kitchen table and steal biscuits off the table before we knew what happened. She was not a real kisser either, but I always told her...it must be done,so she would let me kiss her all I wanted.
She was funny she had a real crotch fettish too. Lol. Any man that knew her, would knock on our door and then protect the family jewels before I opened the door. They knew she would be right there, as soon as she could get to them.

Of course she lost a lot of those things as she got older and more frail. But ya know, it was good to remember these things. Thanks for making me recall those things, Trish.
Moo

Oh Moo, it is such a treat to "talk" with you, too! As you can already see, we love your husband to death (and Bob, if you are logging on first this morning, don't let that comment go to your head!! :cool: :)). We are all hoping and praying SOOOOOO MUCH that this job comes through for you guys, for so many reasons. But especially so Stella will know the time is right for her to enter your lives. ;)

I love it that you already know her name! My hubby and I have "prenamed" our three dogs, too, but we didn't know anybody else who did the same thing. Our next little boy will be Chester. We don't know when and how he'll join us, but that's who he is. Our first baby (our Cushpup who is my avatar) was a yellow Lab named Barkis (named after Mr. Barkis who's a character in David Copperfield). We talked and dreamed about Barkis for years before he actually was born. We lived in little apartments and weren't allowed to own a big dog. But we would sit and share stories about what all we'd do with him. The stories would always start out with "When we get baby Barkis..." and then go on from there. The year we finally moved into a house was the year he was born. I'll never forget our joy the day we brought him home.

Anyway, it's wonderful to have you both here. I know how empty and lonely your house must feel right now. But I have hope and faith that the emptiness will once again be filled one day -- when the time is right -- when Stella comes home.

Marianne

Thank you Sooo much Marianne. The picture of your Barkis is beautiful. To me there is nothing more beautiful than a lab, of any color, but I am partial to the yellow ones.

That is so funny that you have pre named your babies. I pre named Lulu and of course "Stella". Don't ask me why, but about a year and a half ago, I got a bug up my bottom and I had to find a name for our next little girl. I studied names for 2 days before I came up with what I thought was the perfect name. Once I found the name, I settled down. I thought maybe the Lord was gonna send us another baby. Evidently, he had other plans. But I do believe when the time is right, we will meet our beloved Stella. No other pup will ever take Lulu's place in my heart, but I have a very big heart. There is lots of room in there for plenty of loves.
thank you so much for your prayers for Bob's job. We are praying soo hard. That is the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night. We are desperate.
good talking to you, honey.
Moo

Here's a grieving activity I thought of. Actually an exercise for keeping on tract, probably good if you have ADHD. Anyway half the exercise I learned 40 years ago was to think of something, I used to use dog or cat, so in this case it would be Lulu.

But instead of thinking of Lulu, do something that you did with the pet, such as a walk. It would be sort of the opposite where everything you do reminds you of your pet. But it would be the good times mostly.

The point is that your thoughts always go back to the main topic, (dog, cat or in my case our dog Lulu), it's just reverse. The things occur but we can almost always relate it back to Lulu was with us. I think the neurons in our brains get wired like this and it's not that we want to rewire them but they will in time with new experiences.

I used to take a walk with Lulu in a county park, about three miles, took about an hour. She loved it and would often pull me along. So the next time I do this, it will probably be by myself, and I'm sure I will be reminded of her often. I would bring my camera as I had taken my camera before and have pictures of her and the trail. But this time of course it would just be the scenery and any animals I might see along the way.

Don't know if this is good, but it is just an hour and I thought much better to do something short like this first before doing something that took more time, like an overnight trip we took.

And if we get a new dog, it certainly would be something I would try to do with the new pet. Because Lulu would want us to be happy.

I have mentioned my step-dad Bill in Florida, and I remember when my mom passed away, I was there with her in Spring Hill Florida when she did. One man at the funeral said, that Bill really needed my mom, and he said I don't expect that he will last the year.

When I left Florida I was calling Bill every day to see how he was doing and even set-up with a local agency, to call him once a day to make sure he was okay.

I think he got tired of this, and he was lonely, because about a month later he mentioned a new woman, Marion. He got married about three months later. This was six years ago and he is still around, and sent 20 dollars to go for a new dog.

Hope I haven't confused too many, if so then just skip this exercise. I think it is helpful to me, because I have used this sort of activity to keep on tract for quite some time. Let me know if you want to know both activities to keep on tract and I will send you a post I made on another forum on this.

Hi Bob and Moo - just checking in to see how you are both doing. Hope something has made you smile today to remind you that happier times are ahead as much as that seems hard to imagine at the moment. Hugs for you both xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Trish, we are hanging in there. We went to Woodsong park ten miles away and walked in the snow. I used to take Lulu to a few parks and places and I remember taking her to this one just after Labor Day. I let her walk it mostly off the leash as she wasn't going to run away, and this park has usually been quiet. I always carry the leash with me. I will put a couple of pictures up. Woodsong Park

Thanks Trish, for checking in on us. It is so funny....I think I am doing ok and all of a sudden out of no where I start bawling. Grief is so unpredictable. I. Never know when It is going to hit. I do feel better. Bob and I hhave spend enormous amounts of time talking abiut her and looking at pictures of her. Now when I see the pictures I smile more than I cry.

It was very good to go to the park and walk, in honor of our departed, girl. Somehow the snow and the cold, kept me from crying. If I had cried, the tears would have froze to my face. I wore 2 pairs of jeans, 2 shirts. And a sweater under my coat. Lulu would have loved it. She loved to root around in deep snow.

Thanks again, honey for your kindness.
Moo

Hi Moo, I haven't had a chance to welcome you to posting on the forum. We're so glad to meet you finally. :)

Hugs and sincere condolences on the loss of your Lulu. What a beautiful girl. I think it grief is like that, when you least expect it some little thing will trigger an emotion and the tears just start falling. That's okay you know. Grief can also be very healing and really you are honoring a love that has been in your life for many years. A love that will always be there and will come through in so many ways, some even unexpected. :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Thank you so much Sharlene. Everyone here has made me feel so at home here.
I am just sorry that I waited until our girl was gone to. Get on. I always left the medical side of Lulu up to Bob, because he understood it more than I, since he was a med tech, when he was young.

Thank you for the condolences on our little girl. You are so right, sometimes the tears just come out of no where, and I do feel like it is honoring her memory. I also feel that getting another dog at some point, will be honoring her memory. I know she would want us to give our love to another needy baby.
Your Molly Muffin is adorable. I am sure she is the apple of your eye. Give her a kiss for me. I really miss the wonderful puppy kisses I use to get.
Moo

Thanks Moo. We think Molly is adorable too. Molly is our rescue baby that we got after my golden retriever Tasha and her constant companion my cat Tipsy passed away within months of each other. That was a tough time. It took me about a year to be ready for Molly. Lots of grieving and some days of not even wanting to get out of bed. Many of us have walked the path that you now walk. It's not a journey that you have to take by yourself. :)
Well, Bob was very good with the medical and I probably would have let him do it too. :) Family is family though and you are and always have been welcome to jump right in too. My husband lets me deal with Molly's issues but I'll notice sometimes him reading up on something I've mentioned, he just does it in a quieter manner than myself. :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Sharlene, I know all too well what it is like, to not want to get out of bed. Before I open my eyes in the morning, it hits me,that our little girl is gone. I just want to crawl in a hole and pull the hole in on myself.

The last 6 months of Lulu's life, she was not able to get up and down off the bed, so we took our bed frame down and just layed the mattress on the floor so she could still sleep with us, then that became too high for her and she started sleeping on her bed, laying on the floor next to my side of the bed. I would take my foot and rub her in the middle of the night. I can't tell you how many time I try to rub her belly in the middle of the night, before I realize, she is not there.

But ya know what? I am so glad that we are that kind of person, instead of the kind that says...it was just a dog, and then move on with their lives. If you can't love a dog, you can't love anyone or anything.
I'm glad you got through your loss. I wish I had been here to comfort you.
love,
Moo

Hi Moo,
Thanks for your kind words you said about my little guy, Bo. Yes, as your husband said, "they were going through orientation together" as they met at the Rainbow Bridge. They found their peace at exactly the same time and were carried by Angel's wings.
I told your husband that Bo was a toy poodle but was never intimidated by size. He would play with the biggest of dogs and just knew that they were dogs all wanting the same thing.
I miss him terribly and the house will never be the same without him but I do know that I was the best Mama for him and I know he knew that too....just as Lulu knew. I do imagine all our fur babies meeting and comparing stories of how we used to make them dress up or how we would share pictures of their not so finest moments. Bo would have a lot to share. : )
They sure did leave their paw prints in our hearts.

Oh Belinda....I know what you mean when you say the house will never be the same. Everywhere I look, I think I should see Lulu.
aren't we the lucky ones though? You and I were the only 2 women in the world that were chosen to be the special Mommy to Bo and Lulu. If someone else had been chosen, we would have never know how special these 2 were. We would have lived that 10+ years completely different. I thank God everyday for bringing her into our lives. I know that Lulu and Bo are waiting for us to cross over, along with all of the other animals we have had in the past. What a day of rejoycing that will be.
god Bless ya honey.
(((Hug)))
Moo

I got a call today from The Hollow Corners Vet. They said that Lulu's remains are ready to be picked up. I have been dreading this call, but it will be good to bring our baby call, one last time.
Moo

Oh Moo, I so hope that bringing Lulu home will turn out to be a bit of a comfort, rather than not. It is another milestone, that's for sure. To have Lulu's essence in your hands again, in that little box or bag. But back with you again, regardless. (And of course, her spirit always returns to you, whenever you call. :o).

Sending tons of hugs to you and Bob,
Marianne

Thanks Marianne,
I think having her essence here again will be comforting. I know the initial meeting will be very emotional, but in the long run, the house, and everyone in it, miss her being here so much.Maybe once she is home, we can start to heal.
Moo

Lulu is coming home and that is how it should be. May her return bring you peace and comfort. She was such a brave girl.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) )))))))))

Thank you so much Addy. She was a brave girl. :(
((((Hugs))))
Moo

Hugs to you and Bob. Will be thinking of you both.
LuLu will like being home I'm sure.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Thank you Sharlene. I'll be glad to have her here too.
Xoxo
Moo

Welcome Back, Lulu!!! Your mom and dad miss you so much.
I now have Bo's ashes also. I had picked a music box to keep them in but after I opened the bag up to put some of his ashes in my locket, I could not fit his ashes back into the music box. But, the music box holds his collar and some of his fur. I will get another special urn to hold his remains.

Thanks Belinda.
I think your locket idea is a great one. That way you can keep sweet Bo with you all the time. I bet Bo would have love that.
I hope your pain is less everyday, honey.
Moo

Hi all, and I haven't been to my grieving book lately. It just seems there are too many exercises in it, and too little reading material. But I will continue with it and do the exercises I think are pertinent. I have been reading, "Embraced by the Light", I chance picked up at a library book sale, it's a short book about have a near death experience, by a lady back in the 1970s. Now whether one believes in an afterlife or not, and I am one that believes that there is something, otherwise we would be nothing today!

Okay, an uncle of mine once said to me a study was done showing that when a person dies, that a very small amount of weight is gone from their body. (I don't know who volunteered for this and I have NEVER been able to verify that this was ever done.) But when an animal died, no weight was observed to be gone. Well knowing my uncle, I believe he read something, in many of the books he would gather and read, that he just accepted point blank. So I am throwing this experiment away, because you can't ethically have a person die for you to do this type of experiment.

Now in the book I am reading, the author Betty states while in this death like state, "I became aware of other people as well as animals traveling with me, but at a distance. I could not see them , but I sensed that their experience was the same as mine." Okay, that sounds plausible and if this is really what happens it is reassuring to me, if there is life after our life here, then the same is true for our pets.

One other thing I did this morning, as my routine has centered more with our cats and their relationships with us, because I know they both miss Lulu too. There was a light layer of snow on Lulu's ramp. So I went outside and threw some bird seed outside as I do on cold mornings, and then I grabbed the small snow shovel on the deck and cleared the ramp, so that Lulu could use it. You see according to the book Betty says that she could go through an open window to get outside but she also said you don't need to. I just did this because I knew it gave reassurance to her that the ramp was safe for her.

Final note, on the job front, I haven't heard from the school, Monday they were closed. I did hear from a former technical director and he told me things that he thought still needed doing. I have also been contacted by a guy Tim, in Chicago and his partner in Lansing, two hours to our west that wants me to call the Lansing guy, Jeff. They want a programmer with CNC experience, (and that I got doing IT for a tool & die shop last year). I think what they want is a program and if it's me to program, and I assume it would be around here, maybe at home and 10% or maybe more travel. Colorado is probably where the travel would be. So I can't turn this opportunity down if it should materialize too. And it sounds like they want to get running as soon as possible. Will keep all informed.

Wow, I just had to add this. Yahoo has just redone their website, it's only taken them 10 or more years. But this story I saw, first one I read on their new site, will amaze!

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow...184735986.html

That is a great story. So happy for them.

This all sounds really promising and even exciting on the job front. I'm glad you have several prospects going at the same time. :) Keep thinking positive.

Have you hooked up on LinkedIn? Several people I know have used it to network and find job prospects and one guy that is a head hunter uses it regularly to find people for jobs.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Thanks Sharlene, though I am trying to stay away from the recruiters and just contact the company's directly now and yes, LinkedIn is abou the best. The recruiters seem not to be able to connect me directly whereas the connections with the ones at the company's work best. The CNC job wants more machining experience says they will see maybe in 3 months. I'll be a gray old man than! LOL

The school job, which I have been wondering about, I see kept the job listed till Friday, so that is good. I am going to do more pursuing on this one tomorrow.

Well finishing up on watching "Meet John Doe" an old 1941 movie.