gratitude

I promise I'll try to have this be the last sad post (for a while anyway. . .no guarantees on future posts), but in all the heartache of the last few days I've learned a lot about loyalty and compassion and true friendship. . .and that family bonds go beyond blood relatives.

From my neighbors who came over the night Mac died to help me. . .and help me emotionally, and feed me the next day when I wasn't ready to face the world. . .to my sister who called me at 3am because she knew I was awake and sad beyond words. . .to my neighbors when I lived in Japan who grieved like they had lost their own dog. . .to my friends who came over just to hug me and brought me plants that I could keep forever to remember my sweet boy. . .to all my friends who truly understand that losing my beloved pet is like losing a piece of my soul. . .and  to my 13-year-old nephew who said. . ."we will get through this" and sent me the most heartfelt poem about losing a family member.  

Mac's life taught me about unwavering friendship, loyalty and sweet souls.  It seems appropriate that his death does of the same.  And as the inspiring poem All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten reminds me. . .

. . . it is still true, no matter how old you are, it is best to hold hands and stick together. 

I am grateful to all my friends and family who held my hand and comforted my heart.