This may end up being a little long, but something I felt I needed to share with you. You don't need to worry about Miss Josi coming to you. She will come in the most unexpected time, and then you will know that all is well. When I lost Scarlett, as you, I felt as if she had taken a piece of my soul with her. When she became so sick, I determined in my heart never to be owned by another boxer. I soon realized that to do that would have been a detriment to Scarlett's memory and the unconditional love she gave. Two weeks after helping her to the bridge, I was still grieving terribly. As a family, we made the decision to bring another boxer baby iinto our home - not to replace Scarlett, but to help us to smile again. I didn't want a female, nor a fawn, because I didn't want to leave any room to compare our new baby to Scarlett (I felt she had set the bar way too high). My daughter and I drove to Charleston, SC to pick Butler up at 8 weeks old. Of the 10 puppies in that litter, one in particular chose us (luckily it was a brindle male). After getting him home, not once did he ever whimper or cry missing his littermates. He slept entirely through the first night we had him. He found the exact spot where Scarlett would lie in the sun, and so many other things he did made me realize that she had led us to him. I have suffered with migraines for nearly my entire adult life. With each one, Scarlett would never leave my side. She would lie ever so gently with her body pressed against mine, almost as if she were willing the pain to go away. After losing her, I often thought that I could actually "feel" her with me at times. When Butler was about 5 months old, I came home frrom work early with a terrible migraine. I layed down on one end of the couch, and Butler went to the opposite end; too far away to feel his touch. With Butler not being one to have to "touch" me as Scarlett did, on this day I missed her as badly as I did the day we said good-bye. I'm not sure how much time had passed, but I felt something brushing against my leg; so strong a brush that it woke me up. Thinking Butler had woken up and needed to go out, I opened my eyes. He was still sleeping soundly. And then I felt Scarlett's presence. I knew in my heart that she was there with me in my pain. This was her way of telling me that everything was going to be OK. She was "handing off the torch" so to speak, to Butler; she had brought him to me to take care of me now. Although I know she is still watching over me, I have never again felt her presence as strongly as I did that day. She will have been at the bridge 6 years in August. Just like Josi, I believe she chose her time to leave. My mom had just gone through breast cancer surgery, chemo, and radiation. She was considered cancer free early August. My youngest daughter had started her freshman year at college and had gotten moved into her dorm room; this was also early August. Two weeks later, Elisabeth came home from college on a Saturday evening to have dinner with us. Scarlett played like she was a puppy; she was 9 1/2 yrs. old and had fought cancer for just over 3 years. Less than 24 hours later, Scott and I were holding her in our arms and easing her to the bridge. I believe nothing else but she was fighting on until she knew that both my mom and my daughter were going to be OK. After spending that Saturday evening with her grown up girl that she had protected as a child, she was ready to make that final journey. I hope in some way my experience can give you comfort. Again, gentle hugs to both you and Brian.
You will be remembered.
