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The Last Will and Testament of Pippy
Marie |
I, Pippy Marie Haden, known as "PIPPY" to my family and friends, because the burden of old age and illness, realize the end of my life is near. I hereby bury my last will and testament in the mind of my Mom. She will not know it is there until after I am dead. Remembering me in her loneliness, she will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask her then, to inscribe it as a memorial to me.
I have little in the way of material things to leave.
Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store
upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property.
There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love
and my loyalty. These I leave to all those who have loved
me, especially to my Mom and Dad, who I know will mourn me
the most.
I ask my Mom and my Dad to remember me always,
but not to grieve for me too long. In my life, I have
tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and an
added joy to them in their happiness. It is painful for me to
think that even in death I should cause them pain.
Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life
(and this I owe to their love and care for me), I have now grown old, blind and pained, and even my sense of smell fails me so that a squirrel could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a bewildered humiliation.
It is time. I have said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me, I know I have been a hardship on my Mom and Dad.. It will be a sorrow to leave them,
but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do.
We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and
terrible which destroys life. What will become of me after death??
I would like to believe that I will be at Rainbow
Bridge..Mom has talked to me about it often.. There one is
always young and full of energy. There the day is
just heavenly. Where each blissful hour is mealtime. Where
in the long evenings there are a million fireplaces with
logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and
blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering
the old brave days on earth and the love of one's Mom
and Dad. I am afraid that this is too much for even
such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain.
Peace and a long rest for my weary old heart and head and limbs.
Perhaps, after all, this is best.
I want to say goodby to all my extended family, to my
big sister and brother, Sharon and Jerry, my little kids
David and Heather, all who always loved me and helped my
Mom care for me...To my "Grandpa Hank", and my doggie
cousins, Riley, Sunny and Bailey...I will watch over you all.
Especially I will always watch over my cyberfriends of which
are too numerous to name, without whose prayers would not have
made my journey so easy...
One last request, I earnestly
make. I have heard my Mom say on occasion, "When Pippy dies
we must never have another dog. I love her so much I could
never love another one". Now I must ask you, Mom, Please, for love of me, you must love another! It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again. What I need to feel is that, having once had me in the family, you cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow, jealous spirit. I have always held
that most dogs are good. My successor can hardly be as well
loved or as well mannered or as distinguished and beautiful and
famous as I was. My Mom and Dad must not ask the impossible.
But my successor will do her best, I am sure, and even her inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory shining.
To her I bequeath my collar, leash, sweater, furcoat,
jamies, and blanky. She can never wear them with the
distinction I did, all eyes fixed on me in admiration; but
again I am sure she will do her utmost not to appear a mere ordinary "dog".
I hereby wish her the happiness I know will be there in my old home. One last word of farewell, dear Mom and Dad.
Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret
but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of
my long, happy life with you "Here lies the one who loved
us and whom we loved". No matter how deep my sleep I shall
hear you and not all the power of death can keep my spirit
from wagging a grateful tail. I will always love you as
only a dog can.
LOVE, PIPPY MARIE
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