Monday, April 27, 2009

For Honey

For Honey and her parents: http://supertrooperhoney.blogspot.com/2009/04/honey-love.html
excerpts from Eugene O'Neils dog
Because the burden of my years and infirmities is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my last will and testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him then to inscribe it as a memorial to me. I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me most -- But if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely lovable dog.I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even my sense of smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having over-lingered my welcome. It is time I said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me. It will be sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life. What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe that there is a Paradise where one is always young and full-bladdered; where jack rabbits that run fast but not too fast are as the sands of the desert; where each blissful hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth, and the love of one's Master and Mistress.I am afraid this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and long rest for weary old heart and head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best.One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, " We must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one." Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow jealous spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good (and one cat, the black one I have permitted to share the living room rug during the evenings, whose affection I have tolerated in a kindly spirit, and in rare sentimental moods, even reciprocated a trifle).. He can hardly be as well bred or as well mannered or as distinguished and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green. To him I bequeath my collar and leash and my overcoat and raincoat, He can never wear them with the distinction I did, walking all eyes fixed on me in admiration; but again I am sure he will do his utmost not to appear a mere gauche provincial dog. Here on the ranch, he may prove himself quite worthy of comparison, in some respects. He will, I presume, come closer to jack rabbits than I have been able to in recent years. And for all his faults, I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

16 comments:

  1. to sit and cry tears over a dog i never even met shows the true power of GOD spelled backwards...

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  2. Such a beaWootiful post, there are no words....
    -Kira

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  3. Glad we were not the only ones to sit and cry! Lovely post.
    Martha, Bailey and Mum xxx

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  4. Thanks very much,Wolfies, this is more than wonderful and will add it to my collection.

    Kisses,
    Stella

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  5. Really nice post, Wolfies. We all miss Honey terribly.

    Wiggles,
    Brind'Amour

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  6. That is a fabulous piece - we couldn't stop the tears. Well done Wolfies.

    Clive

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  7. Thank you, Saige and Guinness. We've always loved Eugene O'Neill's plays but have never read that. It's beautiful. We just said that last part to some special dogs and we know they heard us.

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  8. That is so sweet! Thank you so much!
    We miss Honey terribly, but know she is with us in spirit and we have amazing memories of our life with her. She blessed us.

    We are grateful for your thoughts and support! It is a tremendous help.

    Big hugs,
    Kristin and Dave

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  9. Oh wow, what a powerful post! Thanks for sharing this with us. We all miss Honey. Wish she didn't go too soon. We just known each other for a short while.

    Smoochies,
    Solid Gold Dancer

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  10. A truly heartfelt post! Thank you for sharing with us!

    ((Hugs)) your friends
    Oskar, Schatzi & Xena

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  11. Oh Wolfies - we're so moved by your post. Our humans have cuddled us non-stop since they read it, we realise we should always count our blessings every day. Love JD and Max.

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  12. Thanks for sharing it. It is beautiful.
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  13. My mom person can't stop snuffling & I'm feeling very loved.

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