As I remember Rondo tonight as part of Pam Storto's annual candle lighting in Maine, I think of this strange community I am part of-- those who have lost pets to cancer. Pam, who I only know through the internet, has placed stakes with pets names on them, and lights the candles at the end of July, today in fact. She invites people throughout the world to light candles at 7:45 EDT.
I've written before about how dealing with Rondo's osteosarcoma and death changed my life, mostly for the better. Tonight I "met" Jill, who is dealing with the loss of her standard poodle who passed three months ago. It reminds me how hopeless and lonely I felt, and yet how, through the Bone Cancer Dogs group, I was not really alone, not the only one who felt this grief. As I said to Jill, for me the grief has never left me, but the edges are blurred. Rondo led me to fill my life with dogs-- Canon, Max, obedience, agility, BCD. I honor his life for what he was, a young, sweet poodle boy, and for what he has brought to me.
