Rina – unconditional love.

Rina died on the 30th October, 2016. We had been constant companions for nearly eight years. If people saw me, they saw Rina in my arms. We loved each other unconditionally.  She accompanied me everywhere, except overseas. She came on walks, shopping, out to dinner, weekends away and even the cinema. She loved trips to the coast and her runs on the beach. We were inseparable.

In early October, she showed the first signs of illness and within three weeks she had passed away. I took it hard, but I would not have swapped our time together for anything.

Grief is still my constant companion, but so are the bank of memories collected over the past eight years. We shared, joys, sadness and adventures and as any pet owner knows, she showered me with unconditional love. I showered her with this too. To celebrate her life I created a garden where she is buried and a wall of photos around this garden.  My desk faces this wall and garden and is a great source of comfort and inspiration.

For two years Rina and I had been working on a book together. The working title is, “Two Poofs and a Poodle.” Since her passing I have plodded along writing this book and I am nearly there.

Later this week I’m off to Sri Lanka  for three weeks. This time will be dedicated to finishing Rina’s book. The book has become a promise and also a labor of love. It will be finished by the end of January, 2017. This is a new year’s resolution that I am definitely keeping.