Monday, June 9, 2014

Annie Crosses the Rainbow Bridge

Annie's "angel watch" continued peacefully throughout Sunday night and ended on Monday morning when she quietly left us for the Rainbow Bridge. At more than 15 years old, Annie had a good long life and remained sound in spirit, but her body, in particular her kidney's had failed her. It was a good fight that she fought well and hard for more than 2 years.
Annie was to me, the classic senior Golden Retriever, the real 24 karat gold and a true gem in every sense.  I felt a connection to Annie the first day I met her on a cold rainy day in April of 2012. That day her owner Steve, in the final stages of cancer, kissed her head for the last time, whispered something in her ear, and with tears welling up in his eyes as he handed me her leash, he made me promise to take good care of her. I promised him that I would.    ...I have kept my promise.
From the first day that Annie arrived at Golden Pines, she was accepted by the entire crew. Annie quickly became a full-fledged member of our pack and was intertwined within the fabric of all our lives.  Her loss has left Golden Pines with an emptiness that will never be filled again.  The verse below by Henry van Dyke seems perfect for Annie and provides comfort for me as I think about her being met on the other side by her family that loved her first, and her sister Sydney, her life's companion, who died a year before Annie came to us. A friend said to me today that "the luckiest people in the world have shared their life with a good dog."  I am indeed very lucky because for two years, I got to share my life with a beautiful girl named Annie.

“A Parable of Immortality” by Henry van Dyke.

I am standing by the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch
until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, ‘There she goes!
Gone where? Gone from my sight – that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar
as she was when she left my side
and just as able to bear her load of living freight
to the place of destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,
‘There she goes! ‘ ,
there are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:
‘Here she comes!’


God speed my beautiful Miss Ann.  Our time with you went much too quickly.  But I know we will see you again when our time comes to cross the Rainbow Bridge. 

55 comments:

  1. I'll be there soon. I'll be 12 next month and we Scots don't go much past that. When I go, I'll take care of her.

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  2. What a wonderful tribute to such a special girl.

    Cindy

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  3. Sorry for your loss, but you did come out ahead by having her with you in the first place. Think about the joy at meeting her again, along with the rest of the gang. Rest in peace, Annie Girl.

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  4. You have been through this so many times since I started reading your blog. Once again I want to thank you for giving these sweet pups a loving life. I'm sure it is not easy, but you have a huge heart to be able to take on Seniors, doing everything in your power to give them quality of life for however long that may be. I for one, admire your ability to do this.

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  5. I held my breath, waiting for your blog to load. I knew what I would find. I actually remember reading your post when Annie came to live with you. I knew how special she was to you from the start. What a fine lady. So beautiful and elegant. I hope in my heart that Steve will be united with her once again. What a horrific thing to have to do, give up a love like Annie, because he loved her so much. He must have wanted her by his side when he drew his last breath, but unselfishly made sure she acclimated to a new home. What a blessing that she was loved by you and Carl for these past two years. If only, every dog in the world was so loved and taken care of so tenderly.
    I am so sorry for your loss. I do understand that emptiness. We all feel like we know your dogs and will miss reading about their adventures when they leave. Thank you so much for sharing their lives with us.
    Gus' Mom

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  6. Rest in peace sweet Annie. We will miss you too.

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  7. My tears fell as I read your words, you gave darling Annie such wonderful years at the end of her life, and assured that dear generous man you would care for her, as you have done. Two years, a flash, but for you and Annie, a time together like no other. Hugs to you and all the others, we know the Angels were there as Annie came to the Bridge. Jean.

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  8. A beautiful tribute. A beautiful life. That's all any of us can hope for. Amen.

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  9. We were expecting it...but it's still a sad shock. You gave her all that you promised her previous owner...and more. Run Free, Annie.

    XXXOOO Bella Roxy & Dui

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  10. R.I.P. Annie ♥

    Hugs,
    Ansku and Mickey

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  11. Lovely tribute and poem for Annie.. I am sure she enjoyed her "golden" years with you..So sorry for your loss, we will all miss Annie..

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  12. Wonderful post for beloved Annie. (I wipe the tears as I type....that's me, I bawled my eyes out reading your post).

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  13. Sorry for your loss. You did a great job and kept the promise to her owner. You do a great job with all dogs with great love. Its Always hard to let them go. Now she meets our dachshunds who say hello to her at Rainbow Bridge.

    http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

    Hugs to all of you !
    Majsan from Sweden
    www.jaktvallens.se

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  14. Oh Kim, I don't know how you do it. You are truly an Angel. Annie and her previous owner are now together. You took great care of her and of all the others you take on. Beautiful tribute. TFS and hope you Carl and the other dogs at Golden Pine find peace and comfort. Ana

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  15. I'm sorry another of your angels crossed over so soon. I've shared this story on Facebook and Pinterest today. Annie, like all of your 4-legged loves, is lucky to have found you. x

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  16. Kim, Annie knew the love you had and took some with her to share...:)JP

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  17. Oh those dogs are so lucky to experience your love in their lifetime. I know your heart is breaking - I don't know how you do it. ((((HUGS))).

    xo
    Lynn

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  18. I remember when you told us Annie's story and brought her home to live with you, and we have all fallen in love with her just the way you did ... through your words and photos. The one at the top of this post with her sweet face in the sunbeam is wonderful, as we all know Annie was. You are richer because Annie shared her heart with you during her 'golden' years, and we are richer because you shared her with us.

    Us Army Brats learned to be pretty good at dealing with loss, but sometimes it's just too hard. I know this is one of those times. Love to you and Carl and the rest of the critters at Golden Pines.

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  19. My deepest sympathy on the loss of a wonderful girl. She is with Steve once again but has left a deep hole in your heart. But the memories will remain.

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  20. Sophie said it beautifully,bless Steve for allowing Annie to be with you her last years.They all have a gift to give to you,& she sure was special ,thinking in prayer for you & your husband,Phyllis

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  21. My heart hurts reading this as tears flow from my sad eyes. So heartbreaking to lose a beautiful beloved pet, they are a true gift from God. I adore the pictures you posted of such a beautiful gentle soul, Rainbow Bridge welcomes you home Annie, Big Hugs Francine.

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  22. i love and will miss that sweet white face of hers. bless you, annie...

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  23. Kim, I can feel her soul and spirit and you were true to your words to Steve, you kept Annie safe and sound.

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  24. Beautiful pictures of a beautiful dog. I don't know how you bear the loss so often Kim - you're the angel. x

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  25. Such a lovely tribute. How happy Annie must be today though as she finds her beloved family again. Thank you for loving her. RIP sweet Annie.

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  26. i've read your every word. and the wonderful words of van dyke.
    and then i always read every comment. it's as if we are united in our sadness. and everybody's words help somehow. even through the tears.
    i cannot say it better than sophie... gus's mom.
    and you gave steve the ultimate gift in knowing that his annie was in the best of hands and hearts.
    yours. dearest heart.
    love,
    tam

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  27. Dear Kim
    We're so sorry to read about your losing sweet Annie - what a tenderhearted post. May you be blessed with her memories always.
    Hugs
    Nadine & goldens Neeli & Elle

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  29. Run free and fast, sweet Annie

    Edgar and his mum

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  30. Sweet Annie was surrounded by the love of her family and friends on her journey home to reunite with the rest of her family.

    She was such a sweet girl and I will miss her too.

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  31. I am soo sorry for the loss of of your sweet Annie ! An angel then and now .

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  32. having been pointed here, by "the cozy minimalist's" beautiful post... a lovely tribute to annie... wishing you well, with handling this passing.

    you are a wonderful person, and you do wonderful work, providing these animals with comfort and joy.

    gentle hugs, to you...

    tessa~

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  33. You gave Annie a warm and loving home, just as you promised Steve. You gave her an amazing last two years. I am so sorry that this was her time to leave you for the Rainbow Bridge. You have my deepest sympathy.

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  34. Rest in peace sweet Annie. and many warm hugs for you my friend...so hard this......love Ria...x !

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  35. I'm so sorry for your loss. She was such a beautiful girl. That last photo with the sunflowers is just amazing. Hugs to you both.

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  36. Kim,
    Just breaks my heart reading this. I know Annie had a great life but I just wish they could live forever. I'm sure Steve was very proud and great full of how well you looked after and loved Annie. I will miss her terribly, I always loved the way her face looked. The last shot of her in the sunflower patch really is stunning. Take care my friend. Hugs always!!

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  37. I'm so glad Annie left in peace and comfort. She was such a lucky dog to have spent her remaining years at Golden Pines. Love the poem.

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  38. We are hugging all of you,,,
    you gave so much love to Annie,,, she felt it
    love
    tweedles

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  39. I've come here because of the post Tammy did about you and Annie on her blog and now I've had to wait for the tears to stop before writing my comment.
    Thank you so much for what you do and have done.
    How wonderful that Annie's final years were happy and loved ones.
    I have several rescues and many of them are seniors and it never is easy when their time comes.
    I had a Golden, my Maddie, my soulmate dog who took a major piece of my heart when she went to Heaven, In all the years since, I haven't been able to get another Golden. It just hurt too much to think about and here you are, rescuing Goldens!
    xoxo - Cindi (and now a Follower)

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  40. Oh dear Annie. Run fast, run free, into the arms of those who have waited for you. Kim, you gave Annie two years of love and devotion when she needed it most. We send you all love and hugs. You are amazing.
    No worries, and LOVE, Carol, Stella and Rory

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  41. I'm so sorry Kim, she was lucky to have you. Steve was lucky to have been able to leave his friend in such caring hands.

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  42. Rest in Peace dear sweet Annie. I am sending you hugs today Kim...you did keep your promise to her owner. Her time with you and the pack was wonderful.

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  43. Again, bless you for all that you do. What a sweetheart she was.

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  44. Beautiful, Kim. Just beautiful...
    what a beautiful sweetheart. thinking of you.

    (i love that poem. Hospice gave me a book with that poem in it when my mom was sick.)

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  45. You do a beautiful thing for these dogs and their people. Hard though I know. {{{hug}}}

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  46. Im so sorry about Annie. She was so sweet and you took wonderful care of her and loved her. She is with her loved ones now and we will all see her again.
    Run free sweet Annie

    wags
    Jazzi

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  47. I am sorry. Farewell Annie. I hope you are running with Steve again.

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  48. Hi Kim - I am not online much now as my 'real' life is so full of wonder being back home. I am so sad you hear about Annie. What a beautiful girl she was. I am glad her passing was gentle. The poem is beautiful - it puts things into perspective. Lily and Luigi. xxx

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  49. Dear Kim, I feel so blessed to have known such a beautiful spirit as Annie. From the very beginning, there was something so special about her. I will miss seeing her pictures and reading about her, but I am glad she is at peace.

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  50. She knew love and comfort although she leaves a big hole in the middle of your "pack", she's waiting for you and all the others. What a beautiful girl. Sending hugs to you.

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  51. So sorry you lost Annie. We remember when she came to you. And it hasn't been too long since you lost Shadow. You have such love to take in those you know will not be with you as long as you'd like. Hugs, purrs and tail wags.

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  52. We're so sorry. This has been a rough spring for you.

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  53. We has been away from Blogville fur a long time so we is just finding out about Annie crossing over the bridge. So sorry fur your loss. RIP sweet Annie.

    Blessings,
    Maggie Mae and Max

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Speak--I really enjoy your comments! Thanks for stopping by today!!