Such a beautiful written encapsulation of your grief alchemy, Mary. I'm so sorry for your loss and so grateful you got to experience such an abundance of love from Samson. 💙
As I read your beautifully word-smithed sharing of such a deep and profound love I sobbed unexpected tears of remembrance and understanding even thought I had walked my 16yo canine companion “Digby “ over the Rainbow Bridge 6 years ago and have remained content and joyful since with 2 bunnies, 2 cats and 2 chickens to commune with ... but the sweet remembrance of that unconditional love and affection my dachshund had for me has flooded through like a cleansing wave of knowing the depth of your loss and the illusion of death at the same time as I can also feel my furry friend who rescued me will do so again when he reincarnates again (I told him to have a fun 12years as a very cherished labradoodle puppy a friend was breeding & then to find me again) as truly the Love we share with dogs can be so intimate and eternal
Welcome "home" to you, Mary, where you are loved and safe right here on the Art of Freedom.
Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt, touching story about your wonderful dog, Samson. I loved the story, I loved the poem, the photos and the New Yorker cartoon was so perfect. I think you came back with a bang! Whetting our appetites for more. xox
Oh Mary, how lovely and beautiful this to read. I can feel the love and I can feel the loss. There is no avoiding deep grief when we love. A wise essay.
Yes, dogs are love. I remember Jordan Peterson talking about key moments in a day, that when we learn how to show up in them, our lives get better. He said walking into the door after being away all day is one of them, and how we greet our loved ones in that moment. Then he said - (something like) Dogs have that one down.
Ain't that the truth. Love to you, Mary. What a heartwarming story.💕
I was startled to read that bridge is in North Carolina (where I grew up), but recognized a similar tradition in Japan ... not of collars, but of young lovers filling particular chain-link fences with padlocks as a symbol. Just a guess about the nature of humans and dogs, but a dog-collar likely carries more weight.
Hard to type this through my tears, Mary. I specifically came to look into your stack today, to read something of yours as my own heart was aching with personal loss and needed a balm and as soon as I saw the title of this post I’d missed, I knew. I knew what it was going to say. Thank you for filling this space with love and grace. I’m deeply sorry for your loss.
Aw golly Mary, I had no idear--I'm so sorry fer this huge loss--been so behind in my readin' (as ya know, some tribbles at home with my own pups, the human ones, specially my youngest) -- but I'm mighty sad ta learn ya lost yer beloved Samson--he sounds like such a swell feller of a pooch! We'ze dog people here'bouts--lost our beloved Shirley at 13 a little over a year ago (a saga fer another time--we do hope ta eventually re-dawg ourselfs fairly soon...) I feel dogs 'r just people with thicker overcoats, better balance, an' somewhat messy table manners. This is why losin' 'em is so hard on us human beans. I swear dogs kin understand all we say (certainly all that's important, speakin' from our hearts) an' as ya expressed so well in this great tribute to "Sam," our doggies jus' give out love an' joy an' git us laughin'. Samson sounds like a terrific buddy that blessed all've yer lives an' over many years ta boot! Amazin' story of yer communicatin' to him that he wuz safe an' home an' needed ta trust y'all--an' how quickly he understood an' settled down havin' gotten the message! Like I said, they speak "people" an' understand us sometimes better n' we know ourselfs! Sendin' good thoughts fer liftin' yer spirits in any of them "hard moments" (like when ya make chicken soup). An' next time ya do--make a toast (with the cup'a soup) in honor of Samson--if ya listen careful mebbe you'll here a mighty bark 've gratty-tude from far far up in the skies...(I 'a course have some crackpotty notions...) BUT...ya never know what's paws-sible!. Sendin' xos yer way an' a few ones "skyward" fer Samson too
You bring so much humanity to your writing Mary, and to the way you live. It is so much what we need as we confront the inhuman forces everywhere bearing down. Poignant, human and real. An example.
Oh my goodness, Mary. I am weeping reading this. Your poem put me over the edge. I am thoroughly a "dog person." I've never owned a cat. Samson looks at least part Lab and I'm sorry, but they're just the best. I have loved and lost three dogs in my life. But, I haven't owned one since I was divorced almost twenty years ago. I have no idea why. Now, I love on everyone else's dogs. I am so sorry for this big loss. Sending you big big hugs. 💜
This touched me so deeply. I’m still sobbing. Cannot quite put words to these feelings yet but feels like more love being wrung out of still uncried grief from my no longer here doggie companions. Thankyou for this love
Such a beautiful written encapsulation of your grief alchemy, Mary. I'm so sorry for your loss and so grateful you got to experience such an abundance of love from Samson. 💙
Amother deeply beautiful and
moving essay, Mary. I am sorry for your loss, and moved by all that you gained.
As I read your beautifully word-smithed sharing of such a deep and profound love I sobbed unexpected tears of remembrance and understanding even thought I had walked my 16yo canine companion “Digby “ over the Rainbow Bridge 6 years ago and have remained content and joyful since with 2 bunnies, 2 cats and 2 chickens to commune with ... but the sweet remembrance of that unconditional love and affection my dachshund had for me has flooded through like a cleansing wave of knowing the depth of your loss and the illusion of death at the same time as I can also feel my furry friend who rescued me will do so again when he reincarnates again (I told him to have a fun 12years as a very cherished labradoodle puppy a friend was breeding & then to find me again) as truly the Love we share with dogs can be so intimate and eternal
Welcome "home" to you, Mary, where you are loved and safe right here on the Art of Freedom.
Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt, touching story about your wonderful dog, Samson. I loved the story, I loved the poem, the photos and the New Yorker cartoon was so perfect. I think you came back with a bang! Whetting our appetites for more. xox
I burst out crying at your picture of the rainbow bridge. Magnificent words, Mary. And, mile-deep truth. How lucky you all were to find each other. 🐾
Oh Mary, how lovely and beautiful this to read. I can feel the love and I can feel the loss. There is no avoiding deep grief when we love. A wise essay.
Yes, dogs are love. I remember Jordan Peterson talking about key moments in a day, that when we learn how to show up in them, our lives get better. He said walking into the door after being away all day is one of them, and how we greet our loved ones in that moment. Then he said - (something like) Dogs have that one down.
Ain't that the truth. Love to you, Mary. What a heartwarming story.💕
Welcome back Mary. Much love to you and your family. ❤️
Beautiful, Mary.
I was startled to read that bridge is in North Carolina (where I grew up), but recognized a similar tradition in Japan ... not of collars, but of young lovers filling particular chain-link fences with padlocks as a symbol. Just a guess about the nature of humans and dogs, but a dog-collar likely carries more weight.
Thank you.
steve
Hard to type this through my tears, Mary. I specifically came to look into your stack today, to read something of yours as my own heart was aching with personal loss and needed a balm and as soon as I saw the title of this post I’d missed, I knew. I knew what it was going to say. Thank you for filling this space with love and grace. I’m deeply sorry for your loss.
Aw golly Mary, I had no idear--I'm so sorry fer this huge loss--been so behind in my readin' (as ya know, some tribbles at home with my own pups, the human ones, specially my youngest) -- but I'm mighty sad ta learn ya lost yer beloved Samson--he sounds like such a swell feller of a pooch! We'ze dog people here'bouts--lost our beloved Shirley at 13 a little over a year ago (a saga fer another time--we do hope ta eventually re-dawg ourselfs fairly soon...) I feel dogs 'r just people with thicker overcoats, better balance, an' somewhat messy table manners. This is why losin' 'em is so hard on us human beans. I swear dogs kin understand all we say (certainly all that's important, speakin' from our hearts) an' as ya expressed so well in this great tribute to "Sam," our doggies jus' give out love an' joy an' git us laughin'. Samson sounds like a terrific buddy that blessed all've yer lives an' over many years ta boot! Amazin' story of yer communicatin' to him that he wuz safe an' home an' needed ta trust y'all--an' how quickly he understood an' settled down havin' gotten the message! Like I said, they speak "people" an' understand us sometimes better n' we know ourselfs! Sendin' good thoughts fer liftin' yer spirits in any of them "hard moments" (like when ya make chicken soup). An' next time ya do--make a toast (with the cup'a soup) in honor of Samson--if ya listen careful mebbe you'll here a mighty bark 've gratty-tude from far far up in the skies...(I 'a course have some crackpotty notions...) BUT...ya never know what's paws-sible!. Sendin' xos yer way an' a few ones "skyward" fer Samson too
I remember Samson from your Apocaloptimism post, Mary. Thank you for introducing us to this buoyant being who blessed your life all too briefly.
Your lyrical tribute to Samson is worthy of standing alongside Mary Oliver’s dog poems and had me in tears.
“The more we love,
the more we grieve;
the more we grieve,
the more we love”
This is the lesson of life … and death. A heart full to bursting, split and sewn back together to love yet again 💓💔💞
You bring so much humanity to your writing Mary, and to the way you live. It is so much what we need as we confront the inhuman forces everywhere bearing down. Poignant, human and real. An example.
I was incredibly moved by your loving tribute to Samson, and the sharing of the tremendous LOVE- thank you for writing such a beautiful piece/Peace.
Oh my goodness, Mary. I am weeping reading this. Your poem put me over the edge. I am thoroughly a "dog person." I've never owned a cat. Samson looks at least part Lab and I'm sorry, but they're just the best. I have loved and lost three dogs in my life. But, I haven't owned one since I was divorced almost twenty years ago. I have no idea why. Now, I love on everyone else's dogs. I am so sorry for this big loss. Sending you big big hugs. 💜
This touched me so deeply. I’m still sobbing. Cannot quite put words to these feelings yet but feels like more love being wrung out of still uncried grief from my no longer here doggie companions. Thankyou for this love
Sending my tears from Samson. He truly was a wonderful dog. I'm sending hugs and love to all of you!