In Memory of Sprite for You:

During many years as funeral director, I talked to numerous people and groups about grief and the loss of a dear friend. Hearing or reading others’ words can provide both a helpful insight into the experience as well as comfort.

Phillips Brooks, who only lived 58 years from 1835 to 1893 and who composed “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” wrote these words to a friend in 1891 on the death of his mother:

May I try to tell you again where your only comfort lies? It is not in forgetting the happy past. People bring us but miserable consolation when they tell us what time will do to help our grief. We do not want to lose our grief, because our grief is bound up with our love and we could not cease to mourn without being robbed of our affections. In our grief, we are not trying to forget, but striving to remember.

Jack from Illinois

Some years ago my precious 3 year old poodle Candy died while giving birth. I too was so crushed because I felt responsible for mating her. I loved her so much that I wanted more of her. I mourned deeply and cried constantly, so much so that I became physically ill. When I went to my doctor I asked him, “Why am I mourning so deeply for my dog when I didn’t for some people in my family who have passed.”  What he told me has been with me since then. He said I had allowed myself to cry and mourn unabashedly, not worrying or caring that I have to hold myself together for anyone else’s sake.                        

Anna from Florida

Hi Mark,

I just wanted to share with you I too had a lost this past Christmas, I had a beautiful mastiff-Boxer mix dog his name was Zeus, he was only 3 years old and we adopted him at the shelter and took him home he was loved – he never barked but once his whole time he was with us but his appearance spoke volumes in power and strength, he grew up with our new born daughter who he was a genital lamb with her even though he was 3x her size….the funnies moment I ever had was when my daughter was 1 her would pull on him and play on him at his bed and he would just sit there as though he knew she loves him….(sorry)…well I turn my back to walk away from them and I hear my daughter starting the fuss like she was frustrated so I turned around and my dog had sat up just enough for her to lay flat on his bed and he sat down just enough to hold her down as though he had enough looking right at me like a old sibling would do to a younger, I laughed with tears of joy at that site and I will never forget him…
He had to be put to sleep because he never got better from his past owner and the kennel as he developed e-coli in the marrow of his bones, we spend over $6,000.00 to try and save his life, it was hear breaking and torture…finally my wife said her goodbyes on that sat morning in January of this year and I had my daughter kiss him and tell him goodbye even though she had no idea what was going on and I took her to my mothers….before I built up the courage to take Zeus to the vet I held him, cried my eyes out and said goodbye, I have owned dogs all my life and I have never had to put them down they would just pass with old age…as I was thinking of the books I read “Old yeller” and “where the red fern grows” it made me wish it was a story and everything would be ok…

well sad to say Zeus is gone, but after a “Gunny pug (my daughter calls it)” and a pet fish my wife, daughter and I have added a new member to the family his name is Pele’ who is a jet black Cockerpooh with one black spot under his chin and chest, he is not Zeus but he has brought joy to our home again……

– Aaron

My Doggie Max was so beautiful.  He loved  Chinese fortune cookies.  He was a huskie.  He didn’t bark. I sent you a pic of him.  He had one blue eye and one brown.  I took him to the Century Mall one day and he got scared.  He didn’t like shopping.  He was afraid of mice.  One time he jumped on a chair when he saw a mouse in the house!.  All my friends loved him. I think they came to visit him more than Victoria.  He was special.  When I saw him in the shelter I knew he was my dog.  I gave him the name Max right away. 

My friend in Milan lost his Father .Mother and Sister.  That is a Big loss.  He is not my boyfriend just a friend that I worked with.  We all have have someone we love pass on in life.    I am having a problem with aol so anyway I Love Us and May God Bless Us  Victoria  I have always had faith I wouldn’t have been able to travel in Europe all those years.  I was all by myself.  I guess I am kinda strong.  I cry though.

Victoria

I love you (not that way) and your show. I have to listen over the web since we don’t get you here in Iowa yet. I was a member of the Iowa National Guard as a combat medic, born to kill, trained to save, but never got to serve overseas; I got my discharge about 9 months before the first Gulf War and the unit I was in did go over there. I do have plenty of friends who are still in and I tell as many of them about you as I can and we all appreciate everything you do and say.

I want to share my dog story with you. I was married soon after high school in 1989 and after a few years, my wife and I tried to have children. After about a year of trying with no success we decided to quit putting pressure on ourselves and we got an AKC registered bulldog pup. We named him Rush after my favorite talk show host at the time. He was our baby boy and our pride and joy. After a couple of years my wife and I had a falling out and we ended up separating which eventually led to divorce. I kept Rush with me and I couldn’t have had a better friend through those tough times. He showed me unconditional love when I needed it most and he was the best listener.  Rush had some health issues and I spent a lot of money on him for his skin condition and his eyes had issues because of his scrunched up face and wrinkly skin, and it didn’t matter to me because he was my son. There then came a time where I had to move and I was unable to take Rush with me because he was not allowed in the apartment complex where I lived, but my mom took him in until I could get to a place where I could have him.

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I listen to your show every evening on my way home from work and I have been so touched listening to you talk about your life with Sprite.  My family and I are huge dog lovers and between my Mom, Dad and Sister’s family we have six.  As I write this, my Mom is on her way to the vet with her Elliot.  She just called me very upset, but we know that it’s his time to go.  Elliot is letting her know it’s ok in his own way.  He has lived a long, wonderful life (14 years), but it doesn’t make it any easier.  They are in Louisiana and I’m up in Washington, DC, and feel so sad to be far away.  But, I love how you put it….at in the end, we humans are the lucky ones.  After her call, your book was the first thing I thought about sending her.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I have already pre-ordered three copies of your book and to say thank you.   When I get home from work after hearing you mention Sprite & Pepsi, I go home and give my Reagan & Rudy a huge kiss and hug.  It makes me appreciate my time with them even more than I already do.

Many thanks for all you do,

Joy from Washington, DC