From White Oak Nursery, I ordered: Abiqua Moonbeam Alex Summers Jewel of the Nile June Touch of Class Guacamole Captain Kirk Thunderbolt and from Hilltop Farms, I ordered: American Icon Blue Mouse Ears Dark Shadows Fujibotan Journeys End plantaginea Aphrodite Sun Power I had spring fever so bad, I got a little carried away ordering online! Off-topic, but I hadn't seen hide nor hair, or even the tip of an eye of my Striptease, even though all my other hostas are up. Good news - saw some Striptease eyes peeking out today! Deanna

I am so sorry to hear about your sister. I went through the same experience with my brother. After he passed, a friend reccomended I read the book "Final Gifts". It is written by nurses in Hospice. It is an excellant book. I wish I would have had it before my brother passed. I have lent this book out several times and have been told it has helped the family members feel a calm. The last person I lent it to recognized many of the experiences and was able to relate and share them with her Mother. She thanked me over and over again. For now, enjoy all the memories you and your sister have. My prayers are with you.

And don't read this while eating your lunch. I could hardly eat this is so tragic. Thank heavens for the pilot - amazing story. Don't forget to read the links in the story too. My condolences go out to the family. May God bless them. Peggy

Hi Honey, I am so sorry for your loss and I think you will find comfort here on this forum. Alot of us have been where you are now. Everyone grieves differently, and everyone does things differently to get through their grief. It is a personal thing and no one can tell you what is best for you, just go with your gut. We lost our first labrador in July, 2001. He was 10 years old and my first "grown up" dog. My husband and I picked him out when we signed the contracts on our first home. We brought him home the day after settlement, a month later I found out I was pregnant with my first child. He was such a bad as$$ dog. He was a true labrador with all the mischevious behavior that goes along with a male labrador puppy. He also was a model dog. He slept in his crate the first night we brought him home and never made a peep. He was potty trained in record time and had the best personality a dog owner could wish for. He also raided the trash if I forgot to put it up, swam in the creek the morning at the worst possible times, all the crazy things you remember with fondness, which at the time they are happening, seem maddening to you. If I only had that time back. Unfortunately, he developed a condition requiring a serious surgery and he did not do well, and passed within a few months of the surgery. We had Sonny creamated as DH's uncle is a funeral director. Half of the ashes were sealed in an urn which is sitting on my bookshelf in my office, and the others are in a cedar box in the stereo closet. At the time he was cremated, we wanted separated ashes so we could spread them in Sonny's favorite places. Over 5 yrs. later we still haven't done it. Somehow, it hasn't yet felt right. We have three dogs now, oldest (12 female) was Sonny's companion, 5 yr.old male who oddly enough was ordered for the purpose of a third dog, just didn't turn out that way in 2001, and another male (3 yrs. old). Our oldest gal is now 12 and we are facing some of the indications that our time together is getting shorter. We are fortunate that she has been with us as long as she has. Labs are not known for long lives, and she has so many medical issues. Old gal keeps on plugging and we keep her going as best we can. We are at the vet often, and she take 16 pills per day. Old gal is out and out my dog, my "shadow". She follows me everywhere and always has. Old gal is my best bud and always anticipates when I need a little attention if I am feeling blue, she is there will her head on my lap as if to ask, how can I make you feel better? I love her so much that it makes me ill to think that we will in the not so distant future, have to say our goodbyes. The thing that kept me sane during the time of my grief over Sonny was the puppy that we had ordered from our breeder. He came to us on July 28, 2001, only 12 days after Sonny's passing. It wasn't planned that way, but I truly believe there is a bigger plan, and our getting the now "middle" child, was God's way of protecting me from more pain. All of my efforts and emotion were put into the positive force of training my new addition, taking care of my old gal since she was grieving as well, and not taking very well to the new puppy. It was a very crazy time and I think it being so crazy, I didn't have time to really shut down. I wish this was easier for you, but it won't be for a long time. Just take it one day at a time and concentrate positive effort on your new dog, it may help more than you realize.