John and Mike in their teens

Harry at 16.

I am sad to report that Harry died today at about noon.

 

Rainbow Bridge

 

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge

 

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.  There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.  There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

 

All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.  Those who were hurt and maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.  The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

 

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.  His bright eyes are intent.  His eager body quivers.  Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass his legs carrying him faster and faster.

 

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.  The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. 

 

Then you cross rainbow bridge together...

 

Author unknown

Funeral Blues by Auden

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message 'He is Dead'.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

 

Happy Valentines Day John.

Merry Christmas John

Birthday Wishes.

Happy 58th birthday, John.  Buon Compleanno.  June 5, 1959    Had coconut cake, but sorry, not your favorite....cheap white grocery store cake with strawberries on top.  Love you in spite of that!

 

John and Harry in our trailer in Truro.  Right cake but no strawberries.

John has been gone for three years now.  Harry is getting old and it seems that it will not be long before he joins John in his urn, as John wished. We are in a new home where the culture is so different from where John, Harry and I spent our lives together, and with everything being so different, it makes the time without John that much harder.  John, of course would have hated this new existence.  Sponge baths instead of hot showers, miles from a big cultural center.  Lots of work on the house that needs to be done.  Nothing is finished.  Well, in time it will all settle down, but I remember why we did not do a lot of camping out and travel to the big parks in the US.  He was going nowhere that there was not a big bathtub! 
The land here is very fertile.  It lends itself to beautiful gardens, which is what I am working on. That is something I can accomplish without a lot of money.  So, it is all very satisfying to accomplish something at least.  And it is fun to think each night when Harry is sleeping in a chair and I am bathing in a Pitcher and Bowl that John is up there thinking just how glad he is not to have to do that!
I would give anything John, if you were here to complain, because even in complaining, you were great to have around, especially when you could be placated by a nice big pan of Italian food.  I guess you would be happy after all...I do a lot of pizza and spaghetti here.