All the animals who had
been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or
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.
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| Decker! |
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| Decker, the show dog!! |
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
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| Lucy and Priscilla |
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...
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Obituary...
Joey Readling Freeman Lindahl died yesterday afternoon. Some of you already knew this and I thank you for the thoughts and e-mails. He had been sick over the past few months and had lost many of his mental capabilities over the past 1 1/2 years. I want to tell his "story". If won't be as long as you think it will.. I promise to keep it short (yes.. this IS Kathy!!)
I found Joey with the help of a friend. I'm so glad Rhoda saw him and told me. We went and picked him up where he'd been let out as a "throw away". When I picked him up, he put a little leg over my shoulder and hid his face under my hair. I was his! Since God gave him too me we've lived all over. He loved the beach with David (1st husband) after he got over the initial fear of the pounding waves. The sound scared him... but then he saw the birds on the beach and OFF he went! Once he was so focused on the pelicans, he went straight in the water! Being a little dog I was afraid he'd be washed out! Obviously he wasn't... but it did make him a little more cautious!
We moved to Hendersonville after the beach. Of course he just loved it there too. David's family are "dog people" and just treated Joey like one of the family. Later, after the divorce we moved into a little apartment and he loved sitting at the top of the stairs "standing guard". He looked like a king looking out over his land. He also would go with me to the theatre when I had practice. Since he wasn't big and NEVER barked at times he seemed one of the props! I had wonderful friends there to help care for him when we had a show and I was pretty much not home for the last couple weeks for production. He was always a little sad I was told, but also enjoyed being "one of the boys" with a group of 4 or 5 bigger dogs (since he thought he was bigger than he was anyway).
He stayed with me over all these years. We'd move, he'd check out the new place and pick out his spots pretty quick. I even took him to the little house I rented in Hickory for him to see it before I put a deposit down! Partly because of him, I live in the condo I do now. When I was looking for a place to buy, this condo has no other units behind it... only a field. I knew as soon as I saw it that it was HOME. Joey loved it there.. he would just run in circles playing with me to "catch him". When Michael (current and LAST husband) came along, Michael just took Joey in as him "own". When Michael made eggs for breakfast, Joey NEVER left his side because he KNEW he would get some.
Last Christmas I knew it wouldn't be long. He ran off and it was dark and very cold. He could see or hear very well by this time. When he went out for his evening "go". .. he got lost. It took me over an hour to get him home. Again in June, we had the door propped open moving a few things... and with his mind not understanding what was happening, he started barking like he was in pain and ran out the door. He ran for an hour and we FINALLY caught him when he went into a creek. Again I knew time was getting small.
I've been with him since i was 19 years old. I got him not long after hurricane Hugo came through N.C. Some of you have know him his whole life (hey daddy, cilla, Beth, rhoda,gina)... and others at different times of his life. ALL of you and endured the JOEY HAIR!!..(sorry for the allergies Wayne)!!. he'd loose enough hair crochet several puppies at once!...I'll have Joey hair on everything for years to come. It probably won't ever be completely gone!...But that's okay. It's part of my life... just like he is. He's part of who I am because he was in my care and shaped my life because I had to do things thinking of him. I've lost one of my dearest friends.
I know this is long.. and some of you may not have time to read it.. but thank you for those of you who did. I know a lot of people loved him and I know he was there and "listened" to a lot of you. Thank you for the ties. Thank you to those who helped me with his care (Anne, can you pass this to Sharon and Nick?)
Again...I miss my puppy.. but he's better now.. and doesn't hurt anymore.
Thank you all
Kathy Lindahl
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| Sweetie,Priscilla.Buddy |