It has been an interesting evening, one spawned by a thread from a friend having to put their dog down.  I was sitting at the dinner table, alone and enjoying my salmon when I read this cry for help and support.  I found myself overcome with emotion and it took me back to a day when I received a call from my father that Bear could no longer get up and I needed to come over and help after work.
  See Bear was a dog that my mother and I had brought home one day as a rescue when we saw a young boy leaving her behind as a puppy on the corner of Sierra and 4th in Norco near where we lived at the time.  We had to beg to keep her and so she became "mom's" dog. I already had one and so did my dad.  In the interim my mother had passed away and Bear was the only link that existed in a physical state and my father could not take her to the vet to do what needed to be done. She was a tired old dog that was not in pain but simply worn out, still very aware of what was going on around her, still very full of love and comfort, and he was and still is an amazing man with a love so strong for his wife that he could not bring himself to sever the last physical connection that existed.
  This also led me to think and reminisce about losing my uncle Tom almost 2 years ago, and how I poured my experience out onto the internet into the very same message board.

and then there were 2...

 I went back and revisited that thread this evening and it amazes me how an online community can come together when one of their own is hurting.  My heart goes out to Liz and her dog this evening, it brings tears to my eyes as I think about her loss, but the thoughts of the individuals that have come into my life through such a portal bring a smile at the same time.  I sit here an active ball of emotions running from strength and admiration to sadness, emptiness and hurt.  I sit here and I am thankful for all of the people in my life, thankful for their love and support, and hopeful that one day I can be half the man that father is.

Thank you for this journey Liz, you and Nikki are in my thoughts and prayers tonight, may she sleep peacefully through everything and you wake up whole tomorrow filled with all that she gave you...