In Memory
***********************
Life
is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one
pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid in broadside thoroughly used up,
worn out and defiantly shouting 'YEEE HAAAAWWW!'
(Bilinda
Marshall 2004)
***********************
These dogs have all passed
through my life giving me great joy and love
AustCh Westenkees Kolvir
(Wally)
Ronphlora Misty Blue
(Misty)
Gagarin Black Panda (Bear)
6/2/89-6/1/2000
Keelinga What's Doohan (Packy)
20/3/99 - 13/09/01
AustCh. Snowolf Kitiara (Tia)
28/11/89 - 5/2/02
AustCh. Snowolf Maia (Maia)
30/11/90 - 13/6/02
Kutan Alana of Aotearoa (ImpNZ)
(Alana)
3/6/93 - 13/2/03
Of all the
friends I've ever met,
You're the one I won't forget.
And if I die
Before you do
I'll go to heaven
And wait for you
I'll give the angels
Back their wings
And risk the loss
Of everything
Just to prove
My friendship is true
I'm thankful to have
Family and Friends like you!
(Author Unknown)
***************************************************************
Aust.Ch Leeski Barney
Rubble (Barney)
11/11/90 - 17/2/03
Keelinga Black Oak (Oakie)
29/3/01 - 19/3/03
Aust Ch Gagarin Tina Zemlya
LYNDI
(The Queen)
6/2/89 – 23/5/03
This was sent to me when Alana died.. I think she would be
proud to share it with Lyndi
LETTERS IN THE WOOD
Wherever I go she follows me
My house is her domain
There isn't a nook or cranny
Where she hasn't staked her claim
Even though she has left me
There isn't one tiny place
Where I don't sense her presence
Or remember her cheerful face
All the years we spent together
Remain buried in my past
The memories are like diamonds
Forever they will last
She couldn't speak my language
She knew that I understood
Scratch marks on the door
Are her letters in the wood
Dennis Stevenson
Lyndi was my best friend for over 14 years, I will miss her
dreadfully but she will be in my heart forever.
*********************************************************************************
The
Boss..
(15th
June, 1990 –
2nd September, 2003)
Aust.Ch. Kutan Yuri Novaya
of NZ (Imp NZ)
Yuri was always ‘My Darling’ , he was The Boss and
Lyndi The Queen. Now they are both waiting at the Rainbow Bridge in their
rightful positions amongst the other Keelinga dogs.
Thank you Yuri,
for all the teaching about harness work and for getting
my confidence back after a bad crash,
for all the offspring which have your
characteristics and looks
and most of all,
for loving me and letting me love you..
DON'T CRY FOR ME WHEN I'M GONE
Three score and ten are given to man,
But ours is a much briefer span.
So, though I give you all my heart,
The time will come when we must part.
But all around you, you will see,
Creatures that speak to you of me;
A tired horse, a hunted thing,
A sparrow with a broken wing ...
Pity - and help (I know you will)
And somehow, I will be with you still;
And I shall know, although I'm gone,
The love I gave you lingers on.
(Author unknown)
Keelinga Kimba Lee
(Willow)
7/3/97 -
26/2/04
"Miss Her Well.
Grief Without Regret"
quote by: Karen - Tumnatki Racing
Siberian Huskies
Gagarin
Dancing Meska (Meshie)
24/11/90
- 11/3/04
WOLF'S WELCOME TO THE RAINBOW
BRIDGE
Welcome. I am Wolf Stout Heart,
Second Year Resident of the Rainbow Bridge.
This is your introduction to the Rainbow Bridge. I have been a resident
here for a little over a year and am now a member of the Welcome and
Orientation Committee, Wolfdog and Northern Breed Division. I have the
extreme honor of escorting you North of the Rainbow Bridge where those of our
kind wait.
You have already received your Silver
Harness, and it looks so good on you. Now, let us begin our journey.
As you see there are fields of sheep and
cows for the herding dogs, and over there are the lakes, marshes and fields
for the hounds and sporting dogs to play. And here are Beau and Sam, the
Goldens I lived with -- we visit often, after all we have loved and are
waiting for the same Humons. {See ya later, guys. This is Meska and we
are on our way North.}
Oh, look! The agility games are
going on. This is one of the newer areas at the Bridge and they have
just finished the Rally-O field--this time with the directions for each
station written in Dog.
All the areas at The Bridge are for all
the animals here and we have a lot of fun together. I have even seen
some of the cats at the swimming ponds.
See that area over there? Where the sun
shines bright and warm all the time, and there is a gentle mist for a few
hours each day? That is where all the reptiles and amphibians are.
They all have nice tree limbs and warm rocks to lounge on.
But let's continue North.
Oh, check out those hedges and trees -
that is where the bunnies and the mice, rats, gerbils and ferrets are. I
like to come down and watch them play; they just have so much fun -the flurry
of activity and squeaking for joy when one of their Humes is coming is a
treasure.
Now watch your step, this is the Large
Animal area. Occasionally all the horses, mules, donkeys, even the cows
and goats get a little carried away with the Herd Running Game and can give a
smaller critter like us quite a surprise as they break the hill at full
gallop. Even the pigs and chickens take part.
Here, the hills get a little steeper and
woods a little thicker. It is so much fun to run full speed, up and down
the hills dodging the trees. Here you will see the 'exotic' animals.
The tigers and lions and bears and wolves, all the animals thought of as wild
but have hearts shared with humans. They, too, will cross the Rainbow Bridge
with their special person.
But our journey carries us further to the
North.
You feel the air getting crisper?
And look, your coat is fuller and your Silver Harness shines brighter.
We are getting close.
Now, step carefully we are crossing the
Crystal Bridge. Here, the weather is always clear, the snow just the
right depth and the trail, perfect.
Since we have arrived during the
afternoon, I can show you some of the activities we have. The Northern
Breeds have many interests and enjoy many different games. I know you
are used to having your Humon hook your harness to the sled or cart but your
Silver Harness has magic and will hitch to what ever you want.
Over here is the Weight Pulling arena.
We have both wheeled carts and sleds. And yes, there are a lot of other
breeds up here pulling. The cart always has just the right weight and
you always complete the pull. Even though the Humes aren't there
to cheer you on we all gather around and woo you on to victory.
The Sammies are over there herding
reindeer, and there are open streams for the Inuits and Greenlands to fish for
salmon.
The Malamutes came up with a great idea
that has now become a tradition with all the breeds. Each year during
the National Breed Specialty there is a Rainbow Bridge Specialty Show.
All the dogs who had show careers and those who just wanted to be a show dog
go into the show ring and go around one more time. The Malamutes have
gotten permission to have visitors from Heaven during that time. Humes
who have no dog with them are allowed to come visit and watch the show.
Judges and Stewards come and take part. And the old breeders come to see
how the breeds are developing and visit with their great-great grandpuppies.
All the dogs participating the first time get their Silver Rosette. You
see, every dog here is perfect.
If you look around you see not only are
there warm straw beds to rest on, but houses with soft sofas and fireplaces to
just lounge on and swap stories. Many of the residents wait here for the
night.
That is the time all of the Northern Breed
dogs assemble. Each night the team is formed up and they run. They
can be seen from earth as the Northern Lights and now we are getting members
from the Southern Hemisphere, they run to the South Pole of earth to give them
lights, too.
Each March is a special run. That is
when the Iditarod is run on earth and all the dogs who have raced, team up
together for a special display. Many of them are cheering on their Humes
who are racing. Many of them have family members on the trail.
It seems the Alaskans and the Sibes work their hardest to make the most
spectacular light display.
Well, I think you are pretty well
acquainted with the Rainbow Bridge and North. There are just a couple of
other things you should know.
You are able to see your Humes when you
miss them most. They may have gotten a new puppy. That is good. It
means they have started to heal from the loss they felt when you left.
But remember, a part of your heart remained with them to replace the part of
their heart they gave to you.
Now, occasionally, your Human may be
particularly sad and missing you. You are able to send your love to them
any time. They will feel your love. It may be as a shadow in the
corner of their sight, or the soft sound of your woo, or a gentle breeze
caressing their cheek. And it will bring them comfort.
And there is one special night, Christmas
Eve. All the animals waiting for a special person gather together and
send their gift of love to that person. That night we are able to
see into that person's home and if the person looks, there is a star shining
particularly bright. Just for them from us.
Oh, I see the sun is setting and you are
looking at all the dogs gathering in team. Go, and run. It
is your night.
Godspeed.
Bilinda Marshall
December 2003
Keelinga Socerer (Harry)
27/5/03 - 18/8/04
BISS Aust Ch Theldaroy Justa Gypsy
(Moushi)
23/8/90 - 28/9/04
I stood by
your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see
that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to
you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I
haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."
I was close
to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were
thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
I was with
you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to
take your parcels, I wish I could do more.
I was with
you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to
reassure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with
you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put
my paw on you, I smiled and said "it's me."
You looked
so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so
hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
It's possible
for me, to be so near you everyday.
To say to you
with certainty, "I never went away."
You sat
there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew ... in the
stillness of
that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is
over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say
"goodnight, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."
And when the
time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush
across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so
many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient,
live your journey out ... then come home to be with me.
Author
unknown