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06-05-2011, 09:01 AM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| The Story of Ashley, my beautiful rose A year ago today I lost my little girl, Ashley. Although time slightly dulls the pain, I am always going to miss my baby. For a number of years, I’ve equated my three girls with the story of the rose and the Little Prince from the parable by Antoine de St. Exupery, The Little Prince. Roses have always had a special significance to me, and they will continue to do so. The driving force behind this novella is the love that a little prince from a faraway planet has for his rose. The prince left his planet and came to earth where he met a pilot, fox, and a snake. I was teaching The Little Prince to my high school English class, and the story I had always loved grew even more meaningful to me. I had just lost Kiwi unexpectantly, and I began to cling even closer to Gracie and Ashley. The Little Prince believed his rose was the only one in existence. When he comes to Earth and discovers a rose garden, he becomes very saddened. It is his encounter with a fox in the Sahara Desert that he discovers an important secret and lesson. After the fox asks the Little Prince to tame him, he explains that investing oneself in someone you love makes your loved one even more special. The fox teaches the Little Prince the meaning of friendship and love. He explains that the Little Prince’s rose is truly special and unique in the entire world because of the time he has spent caring for and loving his rose. The prince realizes how fragile his rose is, and he worries about her safety. He discovers that he must return to his planet to be with his rose because she needs him. The pilot that he has met in the desert has grown to love the Little Prince, and it causes him great pain when his friend must leave. Yet one quote that the Little Prince has shared with him helps to ease the pilot’s pain: “In one of those stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars will be laughing when you look at the sky at night. You, only you, will have stars that can laugh! And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me... You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure... It will be as if, in place of the stars, I had given you a great number of little bells that knew how to laugh" After analyzing this beautiful novella with my “kids” and discussing the meaning of love and friendship, I told them about the story of my little girls. I couldn’t talk about it with them when I lost Kiwi, but I revealed my feelings to them then. I told them how I was pouring my heart completely into loving Ashley and Gracie and how each day grew even more special with them. Gracie had a collapsing trachea all of her life, and I knew each day was precious with her. We lost her just four months after Kiwi, and Ashley was our only little one. Ashley was such a beautiful and loving little rose. Although she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart at the age of ten, she stayed strong for us for almost seven more years. Her heart wasn’t only huge in size. Even when she had dementia the last year of her life, she understood about love. She remained so loving and responsive with us, and she even remembered her favorite fifteen year old neighborhood boy that she had known since he was five. She made our days so special, and we spent our days devoted to caring for our little girl. Ashley was our world, our heart, our life. You and your sisters changed me, Ashley. You were a most precious rose, and I completely adore you. I already understood about the importance of love, but you loved me so unconditionally, and you opened up my heart even more. No matter how I was feeling any day, I saw you and my heart melted. You could alleviate any stress that I was facing. Thoughts of you will always make my heart smile. I will never stop loving or missing you. You were such a sweet little girl, my little social butterfly and love bug. You helped me innumerable times when I was feeling sad. You eased my grief over Jolie and my deep sadness when I lost your baby sisters, Kiwi and Gracie. Thank you for being such a great companion for your Daddy for almost seventeen years, for opening up his heart, and helping his body to heal when he was sick. He would have risked anything for you, and there is nothing he wouldn’t have done for you. Like the pilot, I look up at the sky and see the stars. I think of you and can feel your exuberance and your love. You lit up my life and my heart, and you will always continue to do so. Summer is coming, our most special time together, and you will not be there to share it with me. Yet memories and love are truly powerful, and I will always equate my summers with you. Run free with your sisters and know that we will always treasure you and your sisters. We will always love and miss you, and you will always be our beautiful, precious little rose. You made our house a home, our hearts so filled with love, and our lives so filled with laughter and happiness. You will forever be a part of us.
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . |
Welcome Guest! | |
06-05-2011, 09:51 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| Ashley through the years My little rose through the years Ashley at age fifteen Ashley and Kiwi with her dad Ashley one year Ashley in Vermont
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . |
06-05-2011, 09:59 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: hannacroix,ny
Posts: 1,363
| They never, ever live long enough. There is nothing that will ever fill the empty spot Ashley has left but you have such wonderful memories of her life, for you have shared some of them with me. I wish I could have met her. You were such a great Mom to her and from your stories, John couldn't have been a better dad. I am anxious for the day when 4 or or maybe 8 *little paws are running through the house once again.* |
06-05-2011, 10:02 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| Little rose hrough the years More photos of Ashley with her sisters third photo with Gracie in Vermont fourth photo with Kiwi
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . |
06-05-2011, 10:05 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York
Posts: 3,896
| What a beautiful and loving tribute to your precious Ashley. |
06-05-2011, 10:16 AM | #6 |
BANNED! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Washington DC
Posts: 4,183
| Ohhhh My Gosh... That was LOVELY!!!! |
06-05-2011, 12:08 PM | #7 | ||
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| Quote:
Quote:
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . | ||
06-05-2011, 12:19 PM | #8 |
Jada + Bogie = ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mayberry AKA smalltown usa
Posts: 24,078
| I was so moved by your tribute to Ashley. I can tell how much you truly loved and treasured all of your girls. It is just a reminder that we are not guaranteed tomorrow and we should treasure each moment we have with our loved ones, both skin and fur.
__________________ Michelle, Jada and Bogie |
06-05-2011, 12:33 PM | #9 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Delray Beach, FL
Posts: 7,984
| That was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. Nothing in this world compares to the reciprocated unconditional love of a pet.
__________________ I'm Karen - Devoted Mama to the Drama Boyz - Cooper & Max www.alldogboots.com |
06-05-2011, 02:59 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas
Posts: 7,982
| Lisa, that was beautiful and you are such a beautiful person. I am so sorry about your baby Ashley. She looks like she brushed your life with Joy!!! Take care my friend! |
06-05-2011, 03:15 PM | #11 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: illinois
Posts: 902
| you have been in my thoughts and prayers today, remembering that you lost ashley one year ago today... i now this must be a hard day for you and want to send you a ((hug)). this tribute to your precious ashley and your other precious baby girls is absolutely beautiful and brought me to tears. i know the great pain you're experiencing without them physically here anymore, but it is so wonderful that you will always have them in your heart and still feel the incredible love you shared together. it is more powerful than the pain of the loss. you have always been there to help me and so many others in the loss of their furbabies. i cannot thank you enough for that. i wish they could live as long as we do, at least. all of your angels are so beatiful. absolutely stunning. they were so lucky to have a great mommy like you (and daddy) to love them and take such great care of them. thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story of your precious roses. wanted to share this poem with you... For all the times that you stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and returned the love that i so unconditionally gave to you, for the care that you gave to me so unselfishly, for all these things i am grateful and thankful. I ask that you grieve not for the loss but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved, and touched each others lives. My life was fuller because you were there, not as my owner, but as my friend. Author unknown
__________________ My Princess Zowi 1/21/01 My Precious Pixie 5/28/10 My Little Angel Nika 4/16/04-8/29/10 |
06-05-2011, 03:51 PM | #12 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Florida
Posts: 1,892
| Lisa, That was so beautiful, I always LOVE reading your posts. They are so tender, so touching and just filled with love. Your little girls were loved and cherished beyond words could ever express. I always enjoy seeing their little faces, they put a smile on my face and touch a place in my heart. What an incredible Mommy & Daddy to have given them so much love and to feel so secure and know you would always take care of them. I know the love you feel for them will never die and they will always be with you. I wish ever furbaby could be so lucky to have had the kind of life you gave your girls...and I can see how incredibly thankful you were for them too! Thanks Lisa, thanks for sharing, thanks for the tears..(happy tears) you truly are an incredible person...with an incredible gift. Hugs to you always...Cheryl & Lexi
__________________ _____________________________ HUGS ~ Cheryl & Lexi |
06-05-2011, 04:08 PM | #13 |
YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 373
| Wow Lisa, that was beautiful and very touching...You have also helped many here by listening and helping with many broken hearts. {{{{HUGS}}} you are a special lady yourself!
__________________ Mattie,Abbey,Miley,Dottie,Holly and StevieX6 R.I.P. my Molly Muffin 14/01/11 |
06-05-2011, 04:11 PM | #14 |
My Tiny Treasures Donating Member | Awe she is beautiful and I know she felt very lucky to have you for a mommy. |
06-05-2011, 04:39 PM | #15 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| OMGosh! Your words capture your memories so well. I love reading about your girls, and I love the story you chose to share. And the pics... beautiful, just beautiful. And you have enlightened me once again.... I think I am beginning to understand. But I am once again, in tears, half sadness at your loss, half joy that these beautiful girls and you and John shared so much joy and love together. I will see the stars differently from now on... Love and Hugs, Kathy
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
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