Three months...

David C. · January 02, 2007, 08:13:08 PM

...hard to believe it's been three months since Max went to the Bridge. Honestly, I can say of all the puppers, Max's passing was the easiest to come to terms with, not that any of them are ever easy. However, with the passage of some time, I look at Max's 17 years and 7 months and am truly astounded on how long of a period of time that was. Margie hadn't even graduated high school when he was born!

One other odd thing: Of all the puppers, past and present, Max has shown up more in my dreams in the past three months than the other puppers have, combined. Sometimes, it's as if he was still alive, or that we were able to bring him back to life and had to explain to everyone where he was. Other times he is just there. The one thing I can't seem to figure out is that in more than one dream, Max has been accompanied by a black & white piebald dachshund, which makes no sense to me because I don't think I've ever seen a picture of one, let alone seen one in person. Maybe it was a buddy he picked up at the Bridge?

A friend of mine who just lost his terrier mix that was 18 years old has had similar experiences. He confided in a friend of mine who relayed it to me. I told him it was his pets way of coming back to him and letting him know that she was okay. That seemed to give him a lot of comfort. Depending on what you believe, I'm sure Max's actions in my dreams are his continued loyalty from beyond the Bridge, just to let me know he's okay. I know that he must be smiling down upon Zora & Zeke, too.

papbouv · January 02, 2007, 10:00:52 PM

Maybe Max is showing you a future dog for you never know what is down the road I'm sure Max is trying to tell you he is young again chasing rabbits & squirrels.Must be nice to be able to dream & remember your dreams I never dream.
Patches Mom

Roberta · January 02, 2007, 11:49:23 PM

DAvid it has gone quickly. Like you the passing of Emma was the easiest, she has been arround to say good-bye, but it is Angus we have seen the most of, once when Emma passed over as if to say " you sent her, now my life will not be peacefull" she was abossy boots.
David at least you have memories which is a marvelous thing as their lifes are over so quick.
Roberta

Dee Dee and Hallie · January 03, 2007, 02:10:51 AM

What a neat dream to have. I wonder if you dream of him more because his passing was easiest on you? With the losses I've had, I did not dream about the hardest ones for a long time if at all, almost as if my brain knows it would be too much to take to see them and then have to let them go again. I do believe we will see them again though, and that it well could be Max actually letting you know he's ok (with his spotted buddy...that is sure odd since you've never even seen one that color!).

Hard to believe it has been 3 months already.

TerriL · January 03, 2007, 06:41:39 AM

It IS hard to believe it has been that long since Max went to the bridge. I hope that your dreams of him bring you comfort .

MyLittleBoo · January 03, 2007, 05:20:34 PM

I am glad I am not the only one having dreams about my baby.... This does make me feel a little more sane, thanks...

Although it has been 4 months since my Boo has been gone, I still miss him terribly... And, although his passing wasn't as easy as his Aunt Bridgette, I now feel at peace with his passing.... Bridgette had cancer that was spreading rapidly, nothing could be done at that point, so at the tender age of 12 we help her cross the bridge.... With Boo, well that was too traumatic, and I don't think I will ever understand his crossing over the bridge a little over 2 weeks before his 7th birthday.... His was IVDD related, and had I known that when he was getting his feeling back, he felt tingles and no pain, I would of kept a better eye on him (even sleeping on the floor next to his crate)... But, like yourself I too have dreams, but in mine Boo and Bridgette are with my Grandma who has been gone for almost 13 years(but, Doxies were her favorite), so I can see why they would be with her.... They also have my Beppo who got hit by a car before she was a year old... So, I think that they know when we need them most and come spend their nights with us in our dreams(maybe even our beds??) I know I am crazy for this one though: I sometimes hear Boo barking.... Strange, huh??? :idiot: I think I lost my mind when I lost my Boo.... But, I do know that EmmyLou has helped tremendously in my healing... I think somehow her and Boo have the same bloodlilne, or that he came back to me in her ( since she was born 6 days after his passing), sooo many of her features and looks that she gets look like my Boo... Please, someone tell me I am not crazy.... lol Anyways, my thoughts are with you and your family still, as I believe it will take some time to heal... *hugs & prayers* and *puppy kisses from Emmy* ~Tara

David C. · January 03, 2007, 09:13:31 PM

Tara, you're definitely not crazy. My friend who lost his terrier mix swears he can hear her still barking.

I think Zeke and Zora went a long way to help us get closure with Max, and even Rudy for that matter. Rudy suffered a prolonged and unknown illness (most likely it was cancer) and his final days were very tough. It took me far longer to come to grips with his passing than any of my puppers. He was 12 years, 9 months...not a terrible run, but certainly not what I thought. I had expected him to be one of these 18 year old dacshies, or more, so it came as a shock when the bubble burst.

But now, the circle has started anew with Zeke and Zora. Yes, I see some characteristics of both Rudy & Max in them, but they are definitely their own characters, and it's great to have a new set of friends. I've been particularly succesful in getting inside Zeke's head and really learning to think like him (that's another story for another post)

Some people wants to "clone" their pets, so when they pass, they can get a genetic duplicate. Not me, I think the individuality of each pupper is what makes them so special.

KathyP · January 03, 2007, 10:55:09 PM

Gosh, David...I remember reading about Max going to the bridge...hard to believe it's been three months. It's good that you have peace w/ his passing...that makes it some easier. Though it is never easy. I love that he comes to you in your dreams...letting you know he is fine and that he still loves you. What a blessing.
It's been almost 10 months since my Finn went to the bridge and I know that little Katie has gone a long way to help me heal...just like Finn did after Piddleman went to the bridge. I still dream about him...he was such a love and some days, even w/ Katie here I miss him something awful. He wasn't even five when we lost him.
One of my friends on my Golden forum had to have her 7 month old Golden pup, Copper Penny, put down not long after I lost Finn. CP was born w/ a heart defect and Barbara did everything w/in her power to save her. It was heartbreaking all over again. Barbara told me that about 6 weeks after CP went to the bridge she was standing in the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee and out of no where a bright shiny new copper penny fell on the floor by her feet. She said she stood there looking at it knowing that there was NO logical explanation for it being there. There had been no change on the counter that she could've knocked on the floor and she was home all alone. She said she picked up the penny and it was warm like someone had been holding it. The date on it was 2005 which was the year CP was born. She had a hole drilled in the penny and now wears it on a chain around her neck.
Our puppers at the bridge are always looking out for us.....they love us and don't want us to be sad. When I think about the 'entourage' of puppers I will have waiting to greet me when my time comes I have to laugh to myself...I'll have more dogs than Cesar does at his Dog Psychology Center!!!
Tara...you're not nuts! You are just a lady who loves her pupper and misses him. Really...you are SO normal!!!

PattyInAK · January 04, 2007, 09:30:07 AM

David, that is real interesting about the piebald showing up in your dreams. I think the dreams really are visits from our departed, and their way of saying they are okay and that they "arrived okay." I've had dreams, too, about departed pets, usually shortly after they passed away, and took it as a sign that they were okay. And in every single one, their coats were fantastic.......thick and soft and very vivid in color.

Merion · January 04, 2007, 10:25:51 AM

David,
It is hard to believe it is 3 months already. I know we were very lucky to have Zack at home for us when we lost Zeke and Zelda. Trying to keep up with Zena has helped too!!!
I know I still dream about all of the pups we have lost over the years. It does make me feel good to think of them running healthy and all playing together till we meet again.
Merion & the ZZ's