Jill: A Final Goodbye

Arleah and I very much appreciate the condolences from many of you. It’s clear that sharing your lives with a loyal and accepting companion has enriched the lives of lots of you.  Although Arleah and I have experienced gut-wrenching loss before, the death of Jill has struck at our core.  At times, I feel almost dis-oriented, wondering what happened to her, and why she isn’t here anymore.  Jack (our black Lab) is puzzled and somber.  When we go from room to room, he goes over to the places where she used to be, and gives them one last sniff, just to make sure she isn’t there.  The saddest place is the dog park. He and Jill would run with abandon.  For me, it was almost a spiritual experience seeing the two of them together – pure joy.  They were inseparable.  Even after a hard days running and playing, they would crash in the living room, fall into a deep sleep, making sure to be touching each other.

Arleah picked up Jill’s ashes yesterday.  I still can’t pickup the box that they’re in.

The vet clinic sent us a card with very touching messages from everyone who took care of her.  They also sent us a special card that touched us deeply:

“GRIEVE NOT,

          NOR SPEAK OF ME WITH TEARS,

          BUT LAUGH AND TALK OF ME

          AS IF I WERE BESIDE YOU

I LOVED YOU SO –

          TWAS HEAVEN HERE WITH YOU”

                   Isla Pashcal Richardson

Morrie and Arleah

October 7, 2022