The pic is of a dog, of course, but the same sentiment holds true if you’re a dog or cat lover, a bunny lover, or any kind of an animal lover, for that matter. Here at the Richard hacienda we’ve had several cats and a slew of rabbits over the years. My sister-in-law Tam still grieves daily over her bunnies “the Beastie Boys“, Cookie and Sherman, who were such a big (and important) part of her life during some very difficult years. And I know not a day goes by where Tracey doesn’t think about the true love of her life, her Marble, and miss him terribly.

Me? I try to remember all the rabbits we have had come through our lives with various computer passwords. It sounds strange, I’m sure, but every time I have to type in their names it’s an opportunity to remember something fondly about them.

Whenever Tammy gets blue over the loss of Cookie and Sherm, all I can do is tell her just how much her rabbits, the ones she’s had and the ones she has now, and those rabbits we have had and have right now, caught the gold ring in life. They, of course, may not know it, but a lot of rabbits don’t get to live very nice lives – rabbits require a lot of work and folks who think a cute, cuddly rabbit for Junior will often allow it to be mishandled and mistreated, or leave it stuck in a small cage. And I’m sure the same holds true for a lot of dogs and cats. So all you can do is spoil your pets rotten, talk to them in stupid, child-like voices, and give them the very best lives you can. And when the time comes when you have to say goodbye to them, even with the pain it causes, the best way to celebrate their lives is, after giving yourself a little time to mourn, welcome yet another new family member into your home.

Because what the pic above says is absolutely true.

Pic hat tip: Ace of Spaces HQ.