Most of you know that the Joshua entry has generated a tremendous outpouring of love and support; this pint-sized pup was loved by many people. Nobody loved him more than Davidene, and I had the pleasure of meeting her several days ago when I stopped by the Triple Crown Motor Inn. The counter in the lobby was still adorned with flowers, along with pictures of Joshua. Davidene was also kind enough to give me a mini-tour of the hotel, and I was quite impressed; I’ll post some more images and observations about that later.
I asked Davidene if she would like to share her thoughts here, and this is what she had to say:
Hello Everyone –
It’s been a sad month since my dear friend and companion, Joshua, passed away at the age of fourteen. At the same time, my heart has been filled with joy seeing the tremendous expression of love in the community in remembrance of Josh.
I brought Josh home when he was just eight weeks old and we became best friends from the start – true soul mates. I could not have asked for a sweeter, more loyal companion. Also our “mascot” here at the Triple Crown Motor Inn, where I work as general manager, Josh was a companion and friend to all. Our unofficial “greeter,” he would go out into the lobby area and welcome guests at check-in. We laughingly called him our watchdog—quite the special distinction for a miniature dachshund. We also featured him in television commercials and that is how he became our resident “movie star” as well.
Joshua’s passing has generated an amazing outpouring of condolences, love and support from his many friends and fans. To date, we have received over fifty floral arrangements, plants, and trees donated in his memory. What a special little boy he was, touching the hearts of everyone he met!
Thank you all so much for your kind words, your generous gifts, and most of all, for sharing my love of Joshua. Knowing you will miss him too makes my burden a bit easier to bear. I am sure that little Josh is smiling knowing how many friends adored him so.
We miss you Joshua!
Thank you, Davidene – and everyone else who has posted memories of Joshua. It’s been many, many years since I had to say “good bye” to a dog, but I did have to put one of my adopted cats out of her stroke-induced misery a few years ago, and if you’ve ever had to do the same for a beloved pet, you understand how painful it is. Of course there is nothing that can make it easier, or more bearable – except time, to some degree. It’s just important to remember only the love and the companionship.
UPDATE: comments on this entry have been closed; please leave any comments about Joshua in the RIP Joshua entry.
Sometimes friends have to leave and no one can tell us why. Your friend and soul-mate, Joshua will always be with you, in your heart and in your memories … and you in his.
May the memories of Joshua held deep within your heart help you during this difficult time.
If there were words that could heal your heart, I would speak them. Remember the joyful times with Josh and your heart will heal itself.
Thinking of you and sharing your sorrow over the loss of “our” beloved, Josh. I am so sorry for your loss.
Saying goodbye to an old friend loved so dearly is one of the hardest things in life. Please know, Davidene we are here for you and that you (and Joshua) are in our thoughts and in our prayers.
Davidene: May the memories of your beloved Joshua ease your pain. Sympathetic thoughts are with you for your loss.
The Erickson Family
I know how much Josh meant to you, and how hard it must be for you to say goodbye.
Never was a pet better cared for or loved. So sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry, Davidene for the loss of your beloved, Joshua!
Anyone who has ever had a pet to love and care for understands how sad it is to say good-bye.
May the beautiful memories of the happy times
you shared with Joshua be a comfort to you now
and through all the days ahead.
Joshua came into our lives, left pawprints on our hearts, and we are forever changed.
Perhaps the saddest loss of all for you, Davidene — is no longer being seen through such loving eyes.
With Deepest Sympathy
For: Davidene & Joshua
My lap is too too empty, and cold
the soft resting head no longer there to warm it.
No comfort to be found, no furry body to stroke
my quiet companion gone….
My heart is broken, there are no other words
to write it – this empty ache, this space
you filled, loving always, never judging…
My friend has left, and my hands, arms, all
helpless to stop it.
Little one, fly free, where the fields are green
and filled with friends gone before. I will
carry you always, your pawprints ever beating,
running joyously to greet me whenever I call
and memory stirs in my heart…
Davidene,
I see you every day, and know the depths of the sorrow and grief you have gone through. The grief and sorrow are fading even now, but missing Josh never will.
Knowing that there so many others out there who share your sorrow, and your love for Josh, I know has been a great comfort and source of strength to you, as well the thoughtful flowers and plants.
We will all be there for you, Ms. Dean.
Joshua is no longer by your side, but forever in your heart.
Please accept my heartfelt sympathies for your loss. My thoughts are with you and the staff of the Triple Crown during this difficult time.
Pets are like angels set upon this earth to guide us through thick and thin. Your beloved, Josh was one of these angels who stood beside you throughout the years never asking for anything in return … except for an occasional belly rub, ear scratch, or rousing game of “Barney”.
Josh will be sadly missed, but his memory will be part of your spirit now as you go forward in your life.
My deepest sympathy for your loss of your best friend, Josh.
Don’t think of him as gone away-
his journey has just begun
life holds many facets
the Earth is only one
Just think of him as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years
Think how he must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away
And think of him as living
In the hearts of those he touched
For nothing loved is ever lost-
And he was loved so much.
RIP JOSHUA!
Anyone who has ever loved and lost a cherished pet understands a little about how you are feeling right now.
Losing a pet feels like losing a part of our hearts, but what they leave to us are wonderful memories of times shared. That special bond is never broken.
With deepest sympathies over the recent loss of your friend, companion, mascot and soul mate, Joshua – what a sweet, sweet boy!
Davidene: I understand your tears, each one you shed is testament to your love for Joshua and he would be honored and humbled. But don’t forget the good things you shared – remember and smile.
And when you need him, he will be here. Close your eyes, relax, take slow, deep breaths and picture him in your mind. Shut off the world and your notions of what death is and give him a chance. Look for the subtle signs he sends you.
Don’t stop being proud of him, he was a friend to be proud of, and he is still your friend and soul mate.
Don’t memorialize the death of his body, but instead honor and celebrate Joshua’s never-ending life for it is eternal and forever as is his love for you.
Until you meet again…
Davidene: I just learned that Josh passed away last month. Word of his death is beginning to circulate through your group of friends (and Josh’s fans) in California.
It’s so hard to lose a beloved pet, especially one as special as Josh. Your unique bond and treasured memories will always keep your dear Josh’s spirit alive in your heart.
Losing Josh is a sad and deeply felt experience for all of us who knew and loved him, most of all you. We are so sorry for your loss.
P.S. Webmaster: Enjoy your blog! Its nice reading about Davidene & Josh’s adopted hometown.
Our thoughts are with you as you mourn your loss and celebrate Joshua’s remarkable life. We’re sorry that we cannot be with you in person.
Josh was a special little boy, and we were all blessed to have known him. His loyalty to his Triple Crown family especially, of course, you Davidene, was remarkable.
Please accept our heart-felt condolences.
The Henderson Family
I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Joshua. I know how difficult this must be for you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Josh was such a loving, kind, gentle soul I couldn’t help but love him, too. I know how much you will miss him. I encourage you to draw on your strength and the strength of your family and friends.
May God bless you and all of Joshua’s fans and friends during this difficult time.
I am sorry to hear about the recent passing of your beloved Joshua. I know how much you will miss him. I will miss him jumping up to greet me whenever I visit you at the Triple Crown Motor Inn.
I hope that you are doing well during this difficult time. If you ever feel lonely and need someone to talk to, please do not hesitate to call me.
Take care of yourself.
I was deeply saddened to hear last night from our mutual friend, Trent, about the recent death of Josh.
I hope that you will accept my most sincere sympathy and condolence. Joshua was such a well-loved little guy that it is difficult to accept that he is not with us any longer.
If there is anything I can do for you at this difficult time, please let me know.
I want to express my sympathy to you on the death of your companion pet, Joshua. He was a great friend and a special companion for you all these years. Josh was a very special dog that came to you during your time of need.
I enjoyed walking Joshua for you. Thank you for entrusting him to me, I know how special he was to you – it was an honor walking him.
Remembering you and Joshua in my prayers.
Davidene: The memories of Josh that you keep in your heart are forever … just like the pawprints he left there.
You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
RIP JOSHUA!
Animal companions as wonderful as Joshua, and his unconditional love for you, will stay in your soul forever. And, Davidene, you are better for it, more complete, more whole, more compassionate, and in many ways transformed.
As you have said many times, Josh was the best part of you.
Unfortunately, loving as much as you loved Josh, you also know the searing pain of losing him. In loving him so much, you opened yourself to profound intimacy, but also to more pain, and the growth that comes from both.
May God be with you during this sorrowful time for you.
Joshua had a larger than life personality in a handsome little twelve pound body. He was always in the middle of every activity, greeting everyone with a determined, intent look that said “I have something to say”. It was as if there was a human inside saying I need to come out and I have things to tell you.
Josh had an indomitable spirit – clear about who he was and what he wanted. And, what he wanted most of all, Davidene, was to be near you. That will not change. Although it may be difficult for you to understand and accept, Josh is still with you … he’s in your heart watching over you.
I have always known you to be a strong and resourceful person and I am sure your strength of character will help you cope at this difficult time.
Please accept my sincere and deepest sympathy.
Its been a month and a half since Josh passed away. Davidene finds herself crying more now, not that she didn’t cry at first, but she can’t even talk about Josh without choking up or crying.
Her heart is still heavy, she just loved Josh so much…..and misses him dearly…..
And, as her friend, I stand by helplessly not knowing what to do to help her through this difficult time. How do you soothe someone who has lost their best friend and soul mate – you can’t.
Davidene: You (and Josh) are in my thoughts and prayers; I don’t know what else to do for you.
Davidene: I know that losing Joshua was a terrible loss for you and I wanted to let you know how sorry I am.
I know that Josh wasn’t just a pet; he was a big part of your life, the biggest part as you said many times. Every time I saw you, Joshua was there with you always attentive, loving, and ready to do whatever you wanted.
Special dogs are rare but you were fortunate to find him and Josh was lucky to have you as his loving owner (“mom”).
My deepest sympathy!
I can only imagine how upset you are that Joshua died. He was always a special joy to you following you everywhere, providing you with many enjoyable hours of companionship and love.
I will always remember how excited you were when you brought Josh home almost fourteen years ago. And, how you wondered if you did the right thing by bringing him into your life. You did, as was constantly clear every time I visited you.
I’ll miss that cute little guy too.
RIP JOSHUA!
I’m really sorry that Josh passed away last month.
I know that Josh meant a great deal to you, and I know you will miss him a lot – I miss him, too (everyone who knew and loved Josh misses him).
I offer my sympathy and understanding.
When we lose a beloved pet,
we lose part of our family.
Pets don’t just live with us,
they laugh with us,
they share with us
and they love with us.
May the love you shared
live forever
in your heart!
RIP JOSHUA!
Davidene: May the peace which comes from the memories of the love you shared with Joshua comfort you now and in the days ahead.
We’re sharing your sorrow.
May you take comfort in knowing there is one more angel above us.
Please know my loving thoughts embrace you.
RIP JOSHUA!
I was deeply saddened by the untimely death of your beloved friend, mascot and soul mate, Joshua.
Please accept my deepest and heartfelt condolence at this most challenging time.
He was such a friendly little guy and an inspiration to all because of his unconditional devotion and love for you, Davidene.
I have always known you as a strong and calm character and I know at this moment of loss those qualities will be of immense help.
My thoughts are with you and the staff and guests of the Triple Crown Motor Inn at this most difficult time of loss.
With caring and sincere respects.
A piece of your life has died,
Your beloved Joshua is absent.
I cannot imagine how you might feel,
But I want you to know I acknowledge
And empathize with your loss.
Though no other pet can be the same,
Take the love you gave and received,
As a message to you, of how important you are And how loved you can be.
Your bond with Joshua is eternal.
Joshua-
What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more wag of your tail, one more of your sweet kisses.
We may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived.
And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.
RIP JOSHUA!
Davidene: Through the pain and loss you feel over your beloved Joshua passing away, you can count on my ‘support’. Although I can’t travel to Great Falls to comfort you in person, I’ll be with you, in spirit and in mind and heart and thought.
And though it will be difficult in the days ahead of you, try to face the future bravely as Joshua would want you to.
My heart is filled with sorrow also.
Josh, If We Could Bring You Back Again
If we could bring you back again,
For one more hour or day,
We’d express all our unspoken love;
We’d have countless things to say.
If we could bring you back again,
We’d say we treasured you,
And that your presence in our lives
Meant more than we ever knew.
If we could bring you back again,
To tell you what we should,
You’d know how much we miss you now,
And if we could, we would.
RIP JOSHUA!
Pets are truly special, God’s gracious gifts to us, and Joshua was no exception.
I find it difficult to talk about Josh. As your faithful companion, I know he loved you more than anything in this world – you could see the unconditional love he had for you, Davidene, whenever he looked at you.
I know your grief over losing Joshua has no boundries or end, and that you will miss him more than words can say. It is with the greatest sympathy that I post this short message to you in your time of sorrow.
I know that losing Joshua was a terrible loss for you and I wanted to let you know how sorry I am.
I know that Josh wasn’t just a pet to you; he was your companion, co-worker, friend, soulmate – you’re everything. Every time I saw you, Josh was there with you behind the front desk, always attentive, loving, and ready to do whatever you wanted.
Special dogs are rare but you were fortunate to find him, and Joshua was lucky to have you as hisloving owner.
My deepest sympathy.
RIP JOSHUA!
Our animal companions leave us all too soon, but their footprints will dance gently on our hearts forever.
We may want them with us always, but they have a way of letting us know . . . when it’s their time to go sleep with the angels.
The pawprints Joshua left on our hearts will never be forgotten. Your sadness is shared.
To: Davidene and Joshua
You have shed your body and your pains and are able to dance the dance of true life, and that is the life of the soul. I can dance with you in my dreams, and in my heart. So, you are not dead, your soul still lives, lives on a higher plane, and in your loved ones’ hearts.
You’ve taught me the most important lesson, what life and love is.
Love is complete and sincere respect for another being…
It is the ecstasy of the true self…
Love extends beyond all planes and is limitless…
After a million lives, and a million deaths it still lives…
And it only dwells in the heart and soul…
Life is of the soul, and of nothing else…
Love and laughter ride with it, but so do pain and anguish…
Wherever I go, and whatever I see
In my heart and soul, you’ll always be with me…
JOSHUA
J – Is for “Justifiably” handsome and never mean to anyone.
O – Is for “Overly” playful and loving to us all.
S – Is for “Sharp” as a tack and always proving that.
H – Is for ‘Happy”, Joshua always was.
U – Is for “Unbelievably” spry and loved to play with you and I.
A – Is for “Affectionate”, an absolute doll of a dog to all who knew him.
This describes Little Josh, our loving, very affectionate mascot of the Triple Crown Motor Inn. To know him, as I did, made me love him very much.
Now with his passing, we are all very sad. But, he will remain in our memories, good and bad, forever.
Praise to Joshua, the king of the Triple Crown. I see no reason for him to ever lose his crown.
So, now Lord, take care of Josh and his loving mom, too. Always remember, Joshua, we all love you.
Dedicated to one of the greatest little dogs ever!
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sun on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.
Davidene: The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God.
RIP JOSHUA!
If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane
We would walk right up to Heaven
And bring you back again
No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why
Our hearts still ache in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No one will ever know
But know we know you want us
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store
Since you’ll never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hallowed place within our hearts
Is where you’ll always stay
I know for certain that we never lose the animal companions we love, even to death – especially one as special as your darling Joshua. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make, just as Josh will with you, Davidene.
Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.
Remembering you and Joshua in my mind and in my heart.