Good day my friends! I along with all my heavenly pals have been so busy this past week running about the heavens catching all the graduations! How glorious it is to see all the students from our hometowns receive their diplomas, looking forward to the next chapter in their lives! They each have an open book with empty pages ready to be filled with the stories of their continuing lives. Our wishes go out to each of them with hope their lives will be filled with dreams come true!
      I am standing here at the top of the meadow hill. It is a view that I never grow tired of seeing. The trees and meadow grass that reaches as far as the eyes can see, are still as the breeze has taken a rest. Stillness surrounds me. Quiet times with my thoughts is always welcome!
      I hear footsteps approaching and see a group of my heavenly pals heading my way. We have been summoned by Sady the guard dog of the Rainbow Bridge to come as one of our earthly pals will be arriving soon! It is always a mix match of emotions as we are all excited to be reunited with one of our pals but yet we all never forget how it feels to arrive in this new heavenly home. Leaving our earthly home and loved ones behind, as well as the happy memories, always remains in our hearts.
      Let me see, Remington, Ruger, Lucky, Squeeky, Dutch, Kachina, Ziti, Rasta, Ty, Roxy, BB, Shadow, Sadie, Stagger, Tyler, Casper, Chloe, Bumper, are all here. In silence we all head down the hill toward the Rainbow Bridge. It’s so amazing to see all of the dogs and cats gather at the bridge in anticipation of greeting a new arrival. We all know what it means to arrive and see all the heavenly dogs and cats here to greet and welcome you to your new heavenly home.
      Sady begins his walk to the front of the Rainbow Bridge. Silence radiates through the crowd as we raise our noses knowing the arrival time is almost here. Suddenly we see a yellow lab appear next to Sady. As we glance at the last name inscribed on the heavenly list attached at the end of the bridge, the name Sebastian has been beautifully etched into the magnificent wooden plaque which displays all our names. As we watch in silence, Sady welcomes Sebastian to his new home.
      Sebastian glances at Sady and then lays down. He explains to Sady that he spent so many of his days on earth laying in the front yard waiting for the neighbors and other dogs to walk by, he loved greeting them all. He continued to say how excited and happy he was when cars pulled into his driveway. He’d run over and greet them, and his body would just jiggle all over with joy. Sebastian said he so loved the children and they loved him too! I loved every day of my earthly life. His head perked up as he exclaimed how happy he was! He then laid his head down and said he belonged to such a beautiful and loving family and how hard it is to not be able to be with them. My master and I would walk together for miles, enjoying each other’s companionship, oh how I will miss those walks.
      I so want to thank my earthly family for giving me so much love and bringing me so much happiness and contentment throughout my almost 14 years with them. They will always remain in my heart and I will never forget them. Sebastian laid still for awhile and then slowly rose to his paws. He walked and stood next to Sady, taking one last look back. Sady and Sebastian began their walk over the Rainbow Bridge. Halfway across Sebastian noticed something, his head rose, his tail wagged, he saw Roxy, his best friend! Suddenly he began to run, greeting Roxy. They jumped with excitement in seeing each other. Roxy introduced him to us all!
      We all started barking and howling our hellos! Then we turned, Roxy and Sebastian were already running up the meadow hill in front of us. We ran to catch up and all stood in a row as we overlooked our heavenly home! Sebastian barked, “I’m gonna love the walks here” and began wagging his tail! ....off we all ran through the meadow grass, and our tails were awaggin!
      In Memory of Sebastian who journeyed to his heavenly home, April 11, 2014.
      Gretta, a Golden Retriever, spent almost 15 years at
      The Boardman News.
      She greeted all who entered with a wag of her tail! She died in November of 2012.
      Send your animal tributes/stories to:
      The Boardman News, 8302 Southern Blvd., S2A, Boardman, OH 44512
      or email to: gs125@zoominternet.net