Theme From Somewhere In Time
August 1st, 2005
My dear friends,
It is with a very sad heart that I must tell you that this morning I had to help my sweet Kaffe to Rainbow Bridge. He had been slowing down for a long time, and this past weekend was especially difficult for him. He seemed to be slipping away, and I knew that I had to let him go. It was the most heartbreaking decision I've ever had to make.
Kaffe was sixteen years old. I only had him for eight of those years, but I could not have loved him more if I'd had him from birth. He was my baby, my faithful companion, the love of my life, and my whole world revolved around him. And he was the sweetest dog you can imagine. Right to the end, he was so gentle and so sweet. I miss him so much already.
Our vet was very kind and gentle, and Kaffe went very quickly, with no pain. I had brought our favorite blue blanket for him to lay on. (When we used to nap together, I'd be under the blanket, and he would be on it.) Afterward, the vet said to take as much time as I needed with Kaffe. So I stayed in the room for a long time, stroking his fur, kissing his sweet face, tearfully telling him over and over again that mama loves him.
This ("Kaffe Kisses" photo) is how I'll always remember my sweet Kaffe. It's my favorite picture of us, and I know it's a favorite of many of you too. His kiss was such an unexpected surprise.
Thank you to all my dear friends who have been so kind and compassionate. Kaffe was my special boy, and it always touched my heart that he was so loved here too.
Sandy
Photographs by: Sandy Vassel.
Tributes by: Various SheltieMania members
And I would like to take this space to provide some words from Sandy, Kaffe's Human Angel.
August 17th, 2005
Last night I laid Kaffe to rest in a little ceremony held in my bedroom, which was always Kaffe's favorite room in the house. It was two months to the day after Kaffe's sixteenth birthday. I had ordered a beautiful little stained glass photo cube from Rays of Joy to be Kaffe's final resting place. The ceremony was private, just Kaffe and me, as it had been for so long. Since so many of you shared my love for Kaffe and now share my grief, I'll share his ceremony with you also.
Ceremony for Kaffe
Lighting of heart-shaped candle
Music: theme from "Somewhere in Time"
Reading of Psalm 23
Transfer of ashes to memorial box
Placing of mementos in keepsake compartment
Reading of poem "Miss Me - But Let Me Go"
Video tribute from Barb/PiedPiper
(with music: "Friends are Friends Forever")
The flame goes out... but stays lit in my heart
As you can imagine, I shed many tears for my sweet Kaffe. It was something I felt I needed to do, though. I couldn't simply take the ashes from one box and put them in another. So I decided to make a ceremony out of it. The mementos I put in the keepsake compartment were Kaffe's collar and tags, including B.J.'s tag (she was his first mom), which I put back on his collar to make it complete. I also put in a little bracelet I had worn for several weeks, a silver chain with a rose gold initial "K" and a rose gold heart. I felt like I was leaving a piece of my heart there with Kaffe. Earlier this year, I received a gift from an animal welfare group that I support, a tiny plush angel dog with wings. While not a sheltie, he has sheltie colors and he is just the right size to sit atop Kaffe's box. So while Kaffe is now our guardian angel watching over us, he has a little friend who watches over him too. Goodnight Kaffe, my little angel. Mama loves you so much, and I'll miss you forever. Heaven is now that much sweeter because you are there. I look forward to the day when you can greet me at Rainbow Bridge and we will be together again. All my love, Mama Sandy
-----------------------------
| "Miss Me - But Let Me Go" (Author Unknown) |
A Poem by Ellen Brenneman |
|---|---|
|
When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me, I want no rights in a gloom filled room, Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little, but not too long, And not with your head bowed low, Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me, but let me go. For this is a journey we all must take, And each must go alone, It’s all a part of the Master's plan, A step on the road to home. When you are lonely or sick at heart, Go to the friends we know, And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds, Miss me, but let me go. |
Don't think of him as gone away, his journey's just begun. Life holds many facets, the Earth is only one. Just think of him as resting - from sorrows and from tears - in a place of warmth and comfort, where there are no days and years. Think how he must be wishing that we could know today, how nothing but our sadness can really pass away. And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched. For nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much! |
And some more words from Sandy.
Some thanks to dear friends are in order...
to Saleen, the idea for the "Somewhere in Time Music" came from her web site, which Kaffe became a part of last year, Saleen's Sheltie Page
to Barb (PiedPiper), for the beautiful video tribute to my precious Kaffe,
to Jenn (Cspotrun4), for posting the link to the Rays of Joy web site over a year ago, Rays Of Joy
to Carole at Pictured Petz, for the poem "Miss Me - But Let Me Go"
And to all of you at Sheltie Mania, for all your kindness and support, and the many messages and tributes for Kaffe. You have been such a great help during these last months, and through this difficult and very sad time.
Here are some pictures I took last night. The first is a cute photo album that I had specially made for Kaffe's pictures, and the rest are different views of Kaffe's memorial box. (I don't like the word 'urn' and the box doesn't look like one anyway.) The box is even prettier than I hoped it would be. It's a lovely place for Kaffe to rest in, and he has a little friend to watch over him too.
The photo album is 4"x6" which should give an idea of the size of the box. The top section is the keepsake compartment.
I miss my precious little Kaffe-pup. I know it's not really "him" in there, and I hold so many memories of him in my heart. Kaffe will always live there.
(((many hugs)))
Sandy
Sandy, Kaffe was loved by many. Those who had the chance to meet him are very very lucky people on this earth. Those of us who knew him through you are still blessed. He will live on forever in our hearts and memories of stories we heard as told by you.
His tribute will live on right here and on SheltieMania.
{{{HUGS}}}
Kelly Thompson
**NOTE: ALL photographs/tributes can be shown larger/full size. Simply click the picture and "drag" it into your address bar.