Posts

Travel

 Dear Rafa Bear, Today, I was looking at some vacation rentals in DaanBantayan and San Remigio. Your mom, brother and I need to stay for at least a month because they plan to renovate the house. As I was searching for the different rentals in Airbnb, I found myself crying. I remember how I used to get excited when we are planning for another trip. I know how happy you'll be whenever we go on trips. But this is the first time you are not physically here with us and so I cried. I know your spirit is here but I do miss hugging and kissing you. I wish I can see you. I'm grateful that Taytay is here. He is helping us heal from losing you. You are never forgotten my buddy. You always have a place in my heart. I love you always, Rafa Bear. I hope to see you in my dreams. ❤️❤️❤️

2 Months

 Hi Rafa! I'm missing you a little extra today. I have been feeling better the past few weeks but today, I missed you more. I just realized that it's been 2 months since you passed and that's why maybe I felt you in my heart. I was lying in bed trying to get some sleep at 5am but the feeling just won't go away. As I've learned, I shouldn't push it away. So I let it run its course. Tears in my eyes as I watch some of your videos. Both happy and sad tears. I wish I can see your living energy. I know you are here with me. I miss you buddy. Please let me see you in my dreams. To make myself feel better, I watched this video https://youtu.be/HOzPe09lRWk I admire her. Sometimes I feel drowning in my thoughts late at night. So watching positive videos help.  I've been thinking about the things that you taught me. One of them is that I learned to love an animal as much as I would love a human. You were the constant thing in my life for over 10 yrs, through thick and

New Brother

Buddy! Last Saturday, we suddenly decided to adopt a new puppy. It was a choice between a yorkie and a shih-poo. I wanted a puppy that looks like you. But I would also be comparing him to you. So we decided to adopt a yorkie instead. Your new brother is very energetic, playful, stubborn at times but very smart like you. I was surprised that he learned how to sit and play fetch with us. He is cute! But the thing is, I am not ready to have a new pup in my life. I only want you. I wanted to give him to another loving home. But Mommy Bree likes him a lot and has already bonded with him. She said it's helping her with her grief from losing you. He's not your replacement. You are you. He is your younger brother. But still, I'm not ready. So I told your mom that we will keep him but she's the mommy. I'm just here to support her. I can't force myself to love him. Maybe he'll grow into me when I'm ready. For now, I just want to grieve and think of you. Sometimes

Guilty Feelings

There are days when I blame myself for your passing. I should have done this or that. But the truth is, I knew in my heart I did everything I could to save you. While searching for videos on grieving, I came across this video on pet grief https://youtu.be/tQmafHefyAU She's right. I think you didn't want to go to the vet and be left without me. Of all the days your symptoms started to appear, it was in the afternoon when we reached the beach house. It didn't appear BEFORE we left. You also became well the day BEFORE all vet clinics were closed ( December 31, 2022). It's like you didn't give me a chance to SAVE you. I have decided to bring you to the vet as soon as they are open. Just the day BEFORE visiting the vet, you passed away on New Year's Day. It was the saddest New Year's Day ever. Maybe you didn't want to die in the animal hospital. Instead, you chose to pass away in our favorite place- the beach. To see it one last time, you and me, just looking

I Miss You

To Rafa... I didn't cry as much today. Probably I've cried too hard in the past few days. Mourning has been a daily habit since I lost you, my son, my buddy. Just 3 weeks ago we were still together. I miss everything about you. I love you so much. There's a huge void in my life. Tempting as it may sound, I'm not ready to adopt a new dog. I'm allowing myself to feel this intense pain.  It's been raining for the past hour. I went outside, sitting at the terrace, looking at the places where you used to walk- by the gate, by the car and all those small corners. I see you..memories of you. You are such a tiny creature who has taken up a huge space in my heart. You are always with me. I wish I can see you. Rafa, mommy loves you very much. I kept asking you when you were still alive, "Why are you so loved?". You never really did answer me. You're just cradled in my arms like a baby and sleep. Or you would look at me with your tongue out. I called it "