No Words, Just Stupid Love and Broken Hearts

"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets."

Rubeus Hagrid

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Samson

13 November 2005 - 29 July 2016

Please forgive us, my strong gentle boy. If only stupid love and "anything" could have been enough. Despite that you deserve chapter after chapter dedicated to the beauty you brought to the story of our lives, there is simply no prose or poetry, there are no adequate words, to say how much we love you, how much you did for and are to us, and how much we miss you everyday. Give those precious kisses to all the family until we know your luminous hearts again in the Creator. Sweet baby boy, last of our so cherished gifts of God, all our stupid love - always.

Ma Vie and Rose

Ma Vie and Rose: Portrait of Zoë

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I feel inadequate to paint even this one. It's funny how you frequently pick a name for your pup within minutes after the first meeting, and then he or she spends his/her life being the very definition of it.

Zoë (life in Greek) radiated life herself and, more, she shared it with us in every possible way. Full of joyous energy and the faithful, fun and protective Rottie to the core, she brought me light in one of the darkest times of my life. She showed me the beauty in life and gave me a reason to live it when I struggled in illness to find it. And she brought eleven beautiful other lives into the world, sharing her motherhood with me and giving me the gift of being able to care for little ones - something I'd dreamed of from childhood, but which circumstance didn't allow me to have through children of my own.

I can't paint a portrait that would bring across even a fraction of how much beauty in this one glorious life or how much beauty she brought to ours. Thank you, my gorgeous girl. I love you so much and miss your shining presence every day - and will until we're together again. Thank You, Lord, for the incredible gift of knowing this life.

Brotherly Love

Thor (né Elijah), starring in Brotherly Love with big brother, Costa:

A son who left the family fold for a bit, he had a little trouble finding his place upon return, due to independence-induced and glorious dreams of alphadom. Given the lowdown on what was really what by his generally pacifist pa, Angelus, by the default and benevolent true alpha, Costa, and even once by modest giant of the litter, Samson, Thor showed his truest color was a heart of gold - and took up a place of merrymaker in the family he returned to, dearly loved as if he'd never left.

Goodnight, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Until we meet again, precious boy: still loved and never forgotten. We share our tears with the second family who knew his wondrous heart for a while.

Off Duty

We all need a little down time after a busy day.