IN LOVING MEMORY OF WALTER
March 15, 2009
How do you keep
a wave upon the sand?
Sooner or later, we have to let go.
We
had to let go of our Walter yesterday. Try as we might, we couldn't fix him. His heart was just too tired. But even though
the mechanics failed, there is no doubt that love healed his heart in every other way. If only we could have kept this beautiful
fleeting wave upon the shore for longer than a few months. We had so much more love to share with him. To Natasha, his devoted
foster mom, and to the rest of her family, there are no words good enough to express all that we feel. You gave Walter the
greatest gift any of us have to give. And he gobbled it all up, like the little love vacuum you described him to be.
We wish Walter a safe journey home. And as we stand at the shore
whispering our goodbyes, we wait in anticipation of the next wave. In anticipation of Lulabelle...because the nicest thing
about love is that you never run out of it.
It is an honour to
share with you below some special words to Walter from his foster mom and family:
Dear Walter,
Like it so often
happens, I am afraid that I didn't have a chance to let you know how grateful I am to have had you come into my life.
From the very first night that you came to visit us at our house, slightly hesitant, slightly shy, but extremely affectionate
and eager, I fell in love with you. There was something so gentle, so good and forgiving inside those beautiful brown
eyes of yours. Oh don't get me wrong, I knew you could be a handful but I always knew you were trying your best
to be good even when you were at your naughtiest. Who could resist your complete bewilderment at hearing the words "No!
Walter!". You taught me about how big hearts can be. Big enough to forgive being abandoned, living in a cage,
and being condemned to death. Your heart was big enough to always focus on the good. You would jump up and try
to put you head on the lap of whomever was sitting on the couch. And you would make that human feel loved, needed and special.
Many of my clients have cried upon hearing that they will
no longer see you greet them at the door and have you sit beside them. I love you Walter and I miss you terribly.
I have your paw print not only on a plaque but deep inside my heart. I only wish all humans could have hearts as big as yours.
Thank you again, my dear, kind, gentle loving
friend.
Love always,
Your foster Mom, Natasha and the Grassel family.
