This is how it has been at our house for the last few months: vet trips, new meds, different food, pee trips in the wee hours of the morning.... I'm sure you've been there.
I've been sketching a lot of our two dogs over the last year. Some with traditional tools, some on my iPad using Paper by 53.
This past weekend the serious 'Goodbye' page started taking shape. One thing about our Dudley, he was all about showing you things you'd not have seen without him. Sunday morning as he and I walked down the street at 5:15 a.m. was one of those instances. This was the last Sunday we'd be together, and the early morning sky was just beautiful. Later that day, I did the above memory sketch as a tribute to all those wee hour pee trip walks we've taken over the last several months.
Yesterday was our 'goodbye' day. I came home and immediately went into my studio and studied the right blank side if the page. I had decided on tribute phrase... but what else? I knew I'd just have to take my time and the right things would come. Later, we sat on the sofa and looked at old photos of our pups. Oh that was fun and heart warming. I found one portrait of Dudley that I wanted to put underneath the phrase. Then, during a discussion with my husband, I said the words that are now on the bottom right corner.
You just never know what will find it's way to you for your page..... The journey of journaling - can't beat it!
As for our Sweet Dudley.... he's in a much better place, free of his earthly troubles. Now all our loving is surrounding our Grizz to help her through the grief.... 15.5 years is a long time!
Main page: Stillman & Birn Alpha journal • watercolors • micron pen
Pam, my thought go out to you and yours. I have been through the same thing and am ever grateful of my many sketches and fond memories recorded of my Riley.
ReplyDeleteYour memory and portrait sketch are beautiful.
Thank you so, Genine. Aren't we so lucky that we can sketch our fur babies! It so helps keep the memories close at heart.
DeleteMy husband always described having a pet in this way: they pay love into the bank (your heart) for as long as they can and of course, you reciprocate. Towards the end of their lives, when illness starts to creep in with age, they start making withdrawals until they're gone…we live on the interest that's build up in the years in between after the final goodbye.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you, Pam, as y'all move through the loss of your sweet boy.
Thank you, Laure! I love your husband's description. I will share this with Rob.
DeleteSo sorry for your loss, our oldest pup is 16 so I know all about this early morning pee walks. It is never easy to lose a well loved pet, they love us so unconditionally, the only down side is how short our time with them on this earth is.
ReplyDeleteThank you Elaine. I know, never enough time. Somehow the heart grows and more fur kids fill it.
DeleteI never sketched my beloved Topo, but whenever I took photos around the house, he always managed to get in front of the camera, so I have many many memories of his sweet 14-year presence.
ReplyDeleteGina, I glad you Topo was a ham. Always so nice to travel back in time with photos.
DeleteI am so sorry. I lost my cat in May, had her since 1999 as well. She had come in to my life when I had sworn I was doing without animals for a few years, having just lost a cat and a dog one right after the other. I looked her in the face and said, "you can stay, but you'd better decide to stay for a good long while, yes?" And she did. Although it's never long enough.
ReplyDeleteThey are love on legs for sure. And I so agree with Laure's husband. It does work that way.
I really am sorry for your loss.
Thank you Earth and Ink. I love your 'love on legs' - so true. Wow, that's tough loosing pets so close in time. I happy your last love was with you so long..... but so short. Never enough time.
DeleteI have many, many sketches of my cats and of Joseph's beautiful dog, Sarah...it DOES mean a lot. I am so sorry, Pam, but glad you had the chance to sketch sweet Dudley. He is adorable, and your sketches are as well. I know how much it helps.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kate. So love the hand, mind, heart connection that sketching encompasses.
DeleteI do too, Pam, it's helped me more times than I can say, in all kinds of situations.
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Sorry for the loss of your sweet Dudley. You captured those wee hours beautifully in your journal. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pattis.
DeleteSo sorry for your loss. What beautiful and touching sketches to remember him by.
ReplyDeleteOh, so sorry to hear that. But he obviously had a great life, was deeply loved, and will be missed. It is so hard to lose our animal companions.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry and I feel your loss. I lost my Teddy last December. Hopefully he has met your sweet Dudley and they are exploring together. I have tears in my eyes for you as I write this. They do give us wonderful memories that last forever.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura, Rita and Sharon for your heartfelt sentiments. Nothing like fur love to hold onto your hearts.
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