The Art Of Letting Go

Warning: This post is a major tearjerker and has nothing to do whatsoever with fashion. Read at your own risk.

Saying goodbye to someone you love is the hardest thing you'll ever have to do. You want to hold on and keep them close for as long as possible. You want to fight what the universe has placed upon you. It's not fair. It's not fun and it's not easy. At the end of a life well-lived, what happens to your loved one just isn't up to you after a certain point. And at that point, the best thing you can do for yourself and for your beloved is let go. 

Today our beautiful angel Grace joined the angels and "bark-angels" of Heaven. Our sweet eleven-year-old girl bravely fought cancer for at least five months. The vet caught it in December but it was so advanced that there were no options for her health except to spoil her rotten! Before she was sick, Grace was an avid squirrel chaser, lover of all lotions/smelly smells, professional water wader and kindest cuddle bug. I've loved a few dogs in my life but Grace was the sweetest and by far the most sensitive. I attribute these personality traits to the love given to her by her father, my beau, before I had the pleasure of meeting them six years ago. She was his buddy and he was hers.

 Grace was already five when I was blessed to receive her into my life (but from what I hear was a darn cute puppy). She taught my then-puppy Penny the ropes of being a big dog- how to bark at passersby, how to lick the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and, yes, even how to tree squirrels. 

Grace's exit today was a peaceful one and for that I am so grateful. While we are certainly devastated by this loss, we are so grateful for the wonderful time spent with her. I can only attribute grief to the measure of how much you loved. She knew she was loved by us and we knew she loved us back. Today our hearts are heavy but she remains there always.

Letting go is an art. It's a beautiful craft that can never be perfected. After we've fought the good fight and laughed and loved and had our time, all that's left is to release and treasure the memories. It was my natural inclination to resist losing Grace- to want to hold on as tight as I could as long as I could. But this resistance does no one any good. Like Noah released the raven to find dry land so must we release our loved ones here on earth to find Heaven. 

Today, I know my grandfather and Geoff's grandfather, avid dog lovers, greeted Grace at the Pearly Gates. She was also most certainly greeted by those four legged friends who came into our lives before her. Today she can finally relax and be at peace. 

My Heaven is a place where all the dogs I've ever loved are gathered in one place and I with them. Until we get to see our beloveds again, we treasure the memories, go forth with gladness and remain open to receiving love henceforth. I love you, sweet girl. Thank you for loyalty, bravery and love.

Grace Gregg 

09/09/03 - 05/01/14