Life is unsettling right now. There is still a hole in my heart, my routine and my home. We all miss Rhett.
Although I was able to take Rhett's collar away from Scarlett, she inevitably grabbed the last toy he had been carrying around before that fateful day and the trip to the vet that forever changed our lives. I have not the heart to take it from her. She needs her time to grieve as well.
I am worried. For Scarlett, lest she does not recover and I lose her too. I thought about getting a puppy for her, after all, she was the one who trained Rhett and she did such a marvelous job! But she is not as young and I fear for her energy and safety. Labradors are notoriously rambunctious in their first 2 years. I am not sure she can handle that.
I picked up Rhett's ashes yesterday on my way home. They had been waiting for me for some time, but I just did not want to go there and get them. My heart just did not want that finalization. The reality of the fact becoming absolutely real, that he was truly gone and that forever I would turn and he would forever not be there.
I came home with the package and sat it on the ottoman to open it. Poor Scarlett. I never even thought that Rhett's scent would be present, but she sat by that ottoman and sniffed that box that contained Rhett and licked the box. I cried and held her and we grieved together. Whoever tells you that dogs do not have souls and do not understand........well. They have no idea what they are talking about.
The box is carved mahogany with a lovely brass plaque that bears his name. They sent a beautiful card and some wildflowers to plant in his memory. Nothing is the same without my joyful Rhett. I pray I can get Scarlett through this time of grief. Right now I simply could not handle losing her also.
Ashes to ashes. It is done.
Captain Rhett Butler
May 2005-January 2017
