Good day everyone!

I surely hope that you all enjoyed a safe and fun Christmas yesterday. I hope everyone had the benefit of electricity and if not, that you were able to celebrate with family and friends somewhere warm. It sounds like Kennebec County was hit hard, don't forget, for those of you still without power, the Dine-ah has a generator and we will be open our usual hours to serve you a home cooked meal in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Last week I shared sad news from our family about the passing of our beloved female lab Mariah. The out pouring of sympathy and kind words, prayers and thoughts for me and my family was overwhelming.  So many of you readers could relate to how we felt and what we were going through losing , as so many of you put it, a true member of the family.

Below I have reprinted a story from one of our readers about what happened to her after the loss of her dog Murphy after 14 years as a member of her family.


 

So sad to hear about the loss of your sweet Mariah and hope you'll bear with me as I tell you of my sweet Murphy's final gift to me.  Murph was 2 when we adopted him and at the age of 4, he went on to win Purina's Search for the Great American Dog contest.  He was on the Today Show, rode in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, had his photo on 8 million bags of Purina Dog Chow (and won $25,000).  That was in 1987.

 

When he was 14. we had to say goodbye and it destroyed me.  For the next 6 months, after I worked all night, on the drive home, I'd catch myself thinking, "Oh I can't wait to see my McMurphy" and then I'd remember and feel the stab in my heart again.  It was hard to put one foot in front of the other.

 

But one day, I fell asleep on the couch and had the most intense dream I've ever had in my life.  I had a dream that someone was scratching at the door to come in.  When I opened it and saw who it was, I fell to my knees and bawled.  I kept saying, "Oh my God, Murph.  I've missed you so much.  I can't even tell you how much I've missed you."  In the dream, he answered me, and said, "I know, Mom.  I know it's been hard."  I asked him to come hop up on the couch with me and I started "punking" the hair on the top of his head, like I always used to, as I kept talking. 

 

I said I couldn't believe how good he looked.  He looked me right in the eye and said a word I've never spoken or written.  He said, "That's because I've been restored."  I was stunned and he said, "The cancer's all gone, Mom, but if I stay, I have to go back to being sick again."

 

My next words were, "Oh no, Baby.  I don't ever want to see you go through that again."  After 20 minutes, he hopped off the couch and said, "I have to go now.  Will you be all right?"  I was bawling again, but I said, "Now that I know YOU are all right, I'll be okay."  I opened the door to let him back out and he turned back to me and said, "And I just have to tell you one more thing."  I said, "What's that, Baby?"

 

He said to me, "We WILL be together again."

 

From that day on, I was at ease with him not being in my life every day.  And I know that every step I now take on this earth simply brings me closer to him.  I have had other dogs since then because I never want to face a day in my life without a dog in it and like yours, they are permanent family members.

 

Please just know that your Mariah will be with you always and I know she and Murph are probably already running free and full of joy as they wait for us to be reunited.

 

 

Thank you so much to everyone that wrote in and shared their story of losing a precious pet. It meant a lot to me.

 

 

Just a reminder our NEW HOURS STARTING JANUARY 7th:

 

 Monday- closed 

Tuesday - 11 am to 8 pm

 

Wednesday - 11 am to 8 pm
Thursday - 11 am to 8 pm
HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!