It does get easier. If I don't have something else to fill my time, I think about him and miss him every moment. Saturday a close friend spent some time with me to fill the afternoon and his quiet, compassionate support helped me find a calm place inside. (Thank you)
Maggie, our chocolate Lab is grieving, too. Last night she was very subdued, wandering around the house, looking kind of lost. We took her with us today to Lowe's and she seemed to perk up, but when we got home she walked through the house looking at all the places where she might normally find Frazier - in his bed in the bedroom, in HER bed in the bedroom (where he sometimes liked to go), his bed in the living room. She seems perplexed and keeps glancing at it, but won't lie down on it (which she would do when he was here).
Since they have both grown older, they did not play much, except on occasion when out on walks, Frazier would feel stronger and make an attempt to chase after her. And Maggie was fond of standing over him and cleaning his ears. I don't think there is any reason to believe that a dog who has spent her entire life in the company of another dog would not notice his absence.
A lot of people think that pets are just animals that don't have feelings and don't really understand the world. Anyone who was really lived with a pet, not OWNED one, but lived with him or her as a functioning part of the family unit, knows that is absolutely not true.
We will all adjust, I will, and Maggie will, but I will think about Frazier every day for the rest of my life, just like I think about my mother and other friends who have died. I don't forget and they all live on in my memory.
