[observer]

I'm sorry to hear about Ralphie.

I've always loved this little "poem". It was written about a horse, but if you substitute the word "dog" for "horse", the meaning is the same.

We who choose to surround ourselves with lives more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan. The life of a horse, often half our own, seems endless until one day. That day has come and gone for me, and I am once again within a somewhat smaller circle."


-Irving Townsend "The Once Again Prince"


Hang on to those memories -- they will help more and more with the pain as time passes. They are never with us long enough. My Rottie girl is 12, my horses are 23 and 28.

Your family and Ralphie were fortunate to have each other. He's still keeping an eye on all of you, while he's meeting some wonderful new friends (I'm sure that same sniffing goes on at the Bridge).