:cry: Oh, Linda, I'm so sorry.  I know that Phantom had a good, long life with you, but it's never long enough.  

He sounds like he was a treasured member of your family.  He was loved, and he loved you in return.  

RIP sweet Phantom.

I'm so very sorry Linda, please express my condolences to Jerry
and your daughter as well. I've always liked this little thought, hope it helps.


A LIVING LOVE

(by Martin Scot Kosins)

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember....

The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder.


Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter simple because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room and when you feel it brush against you for the first time it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.


The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later.

It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy.

And you will see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness.

And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.


And on this day if your friend and God have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you, you will feel as low as a single star in the dark night.


If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you.


But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul a bit smaller in size than your own seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come.


And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg very very lightly.


And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your heart As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you.


Either way, it will still be an ache.


But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when along with the memory of your pet and piercing through the heaviness in your heart there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets it is a Love we will always possess.

I am so sorry about Phantom.  

It is the toughest thing to lose a pet.  By living this long you guy has proved he was very loved and cherished by you and your family...now he will wait to see you again at the bridge...

Oh Linda... I'm so very sorry to hear of your Phantom's passing. :cry:
My deepest condolences to you, Jerry and your daughter at this most difficult time.
He certainly had a long and happy life as your beloved companion, and I know you were trying to brace and prepare for this sad outcome.

Doesnt matter though. One can never be ready.. and it's never long enough. :cry: My heart goes out to you all.  :flower:

A beautiful tribute you have written to your cherished boy, he sounds like such a remarkable, wonderful dog.
R.I.P dear Phantom :flower: .  


What a beautfiul writing you've offered Linda, Mary.
I've never seen this before. So powerfully true and touching.

I'd like to offer Linda a short poem, one of my personal favourites

THE TIDE

The tide recedes, but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth
still lingers on the land.
The music stops, yet echoes on
in sweet, soulful refrains.
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains."
Author: Unknown

Dear Linda, Jerry and Diana,

this sad has finally arrived and even if you where expecting it, I know the pain must be heartwrenching. To say goodbye to someone who lived with you for so long and who only brought joy into your lives is terribly hard.

Phantom's soul is now free and he will be there to greet you as you mentioned. His spirit of love for you and your family will always be with you.

Rest in peace Phantom.

Birgit

I am so very sorry.

Run free, and whole, no more pain dear Phantom, good boy~

Oh Linda, I'm so sorry. Phantom was clearly much loved and well taken care of.  May the memories of your sweet little one give you and your family comfort as you grieve. Best wishes, Ales