Grieving the Loss of Our Dog

We Miss Our Dog

Bailey, our almost 16 year old dog, died on October 22, 2009.  The holidays brought the loss of Bailey back like he had just died.  It was the first Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years without him and he was missed terribly.  My daughter wanted to hang Bailey's stocking with the rest and we did.  Just because he's gone doesn't mean he's forgotten.

I think I am OK and then I find that the grief just hits at times.  Sometimes it's unexpected.  Like when I realized we could travel and make stops in the car without letting Bailey out to walk and without worrying if he would get too cold waiting for us.  I am still sometimes very surprised when I remember that he's not here.  Sometimes the grief would be expected if I would think about what I was about to do.  A few days ago, I took out the bag containing Bailey's ashes and a paw print.  I cried a lot and it just didn't stop.  Most of the time, we are OK and we remember happy times with Bailey.  Grief is a process that is difficult but necessary.  We love you, Bailey.