by Donna Russell
Dear Scooter,
My precious angel…I am writing this letter to you because I love you…and you are no longer by my side…now I carry you in my heart, which is broken for you. I was not prepared to let you go. I had always protected you from everything…I sheltered you from harm. But the one thing that I could not protect you from was death. All that I could do was hold you in my arms and tell you how much I loved you…as your life slipped away from me…I told you to “run toward the light.” How do I say goodbye to the “Love Of My Life?” I have so many feelings and emotions running through my soul that I don’t even know where to start.
I will never, ever forget the day that you came into my life. Prior to your becoming a member of our family we had another daschund by the name of Mija. We had to put Mija to sleep because she was very sick. We had 13 years with her before we had to give her back to God. I thought that I would never get over her passing; it just hurt so badly. I was walking in the shopping mall one day when I saw you through the pet store window. You were the cutest little thing! By the time that I held you in my arms…it was all over. The next thing I knew…I was handing the cashier my Visa card…you were the first thing that I ever bought on my Visa card in 1986…and you cost $350.00!
When I got you home…I dutifully set up a cardboard box…put it next to my bed…and shredded paper to make you comfortable so that you could sleep next to me. I remember that your whole puppy body fit in the palm of my hand. I went to bed that night and put you in the box and shut off the light. You let out a little “peep”…”That’s it!” I said, “You’re sleeping with me!” I picked you up out of the box and put you in my water bed…. your little head on a goose down pillow…your little body covered with a goose down comforter. Needless to say…you slept like the little baby that you were…I, on the other hand, did not sleep for about 2 months because I was so afraid of rolling on top of you and hurting you. I used to call you my “little man.”…You were so spoiled…and I wouldn’t have had it any other way!
The years went by…we celebrated birthdays and Christmas’…and all other occasions. You grew into a fine young man…you trained us well to do tricks for you. You knew just what to do to tug at our hearts and get what you wanted. Thank you for the licks on the hand…and all the kisses that you put up with from Daddy and me. You made us laugh…you made us cry…you taught us what true love was all about. I am a blessed for having known you and having had you in my life. I still plan on putting you Christmas stocking up every year…and I already have a beautiful Christmas ornament with your name on it that I got from the “Make A Wish Foundation.” Part of the purchase goes to help a terminally ill child fulfill a special wish.
We celebrated your 15th birthday by getting you a “radio flyer wagon.” We used to pull you around the neighborhood in your wagon and people thought that you were the cutest little thing. I hope that you will not hold it against me for making you wear a birthday hat as I pulled you in your wagon.
Shortly after your 15th birthday we started to notice that you were getting very tired. It’s a good thing that we got you that wagon…I guess the Lord knew that we would be using it more and more just to transport you outside to do your business. As if it wasn’t bad enough that you had gone deaf…and were going blind from cataracts…now your body was starting to betray you.
On September 7, 2001 we said goodbye to you…please forgive me for loving you enough to let you go…but I know that I will see you at “Rainbow Bridge” one day and we will be together for eternity. Until then…we will keep sending you “balloon mail” to let you know that we are thinking of you. The plaque and picture hangs on the tree in the cemetery where your ashes are buried. Your physical body may be gone…but your spirit will soar with the angels.
Now…I celebrate your life…and I give you back to God………We’ll Kiss You In Our Dreams…Until We Hold You In Our Arms...
Love Always………
Mommy & Daddy