Ella

How death can never extinguish a life

This Monday, our much loved dog, Ella passed away.

As any dog lover, or in fact, any lover of animals will know - we have lost a family member.

Ever astute, my husband reflected that, "For someone who never spoke a word, she spoke volumes."

While the house feels empty without her physical presence, our hearts remain full with love and gratitude.

The last two days have brought forward a deeper level of softness for life and compassion for all living things.

There is no need to rush.

There is grace in moving slowly right now and grace in noticing what went unnoticed before.

Life is a grand mixture of every emotion...each a lesson and opportunity to feel what it is to be human.

In honor of Ella, I would like to post a piece that my youngest daughter wrote after her passing.

I would also like to leave you with a quote that one of my dearest friends sent to me:

“I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time? The misery of keeping a dog is his dying so soon. But, to be sure, if he lived for fifty years and then died, what would become of me?”

~ Sir Walter Scott

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"This morning, the death of my beloved dog drove home the passing of time. I remember

when she was a puppy and I was entering first grade. Since that time, she and I have grown up

together. I had nearly convinced myself that she would forever be a puppy and never change - as

in my own biased mind she was still new to this world; still my little sister in everything but blood.

I had nearly convinced myself that she was immortal, as every hopeful person does. Four

years ago, she had an accident that impaired her spin and since that time she has had trouble

moving independently. Her injury brought us closer in a way that made me more grateful for the

gift that was my life with her. In my eyes she has always been a puppy; she never slowed down,

never stopped being energetic or cunning, or clumsy or huggable or any less deserving of my

complete and everlasting adoration. Carry on, Ella."