you are so welcome!! I was just playing your video and my 16 1/2 year old twins asked what was up….I told them what I was watching and they do know all about you because HARO has been a part of all of our lives (my sons were the Russian Twins in the film “2012″) since they were featured in an article in People because of HARO and I’ve been quoted many places because of HARO!!
You mention adopting pets, all 4 of our cats are rescue cats – 2 of which we adopted as adults.

As one of your followers said which we all relate too – you will see Karma in the places you expect to see her. You have to give yourself one full year of mourning. When we lost 2 cats within 3 months and had one left, it took me one year to get the 2 adult brothers ………

You are a good guy !!! and Karma will be with you forever!!!! Thanks for the view! of Bengel!!! I’m also glad to see those puffy eyes, it helps to cry!!!! and wow, a guy admitting that- what a new generation…….. :)

Time to experience your sorrow is so important, the beach, the woods, the desert – they all offer a place to both mourn and to heal. Allow your travels to take your mind off of all that ‘needs to be done’ and focus on what your heart needs; be it to cry, remember or be grateful. (Hugs)

Yes, adult puffy eyes. I recognize them from the loss of each of my Newfoundlands over the years. Just when you think the pain is easier to take … you realize it’s not. It will take awhile. We will keep you and Karma in our thoughts and prayers.

Take care of yourself, Peter — thanks for sharing everything with us. Rescue is the way to go for pets. We have a rescued Great Dane (http://www.magdrl.org) and 3 rescued cats. We lost our other Dane in Jan. She would have been 12 — a big age for a Dane. I still miss her, and cry when I think of her and everything she went through before she came to us. Ethel’s story is here — http://blog.achieve-momentum.com/?p=913

Hey Peter – sorry to hear; just found out from the vid.

I remember — I don’t know, back in 1999/2000 when I had to put my dog BB to sleep — having her in my life since my early teens she was always there to listen to me, to cry to.. I remember we used to take midnight walks when I lived in Oradell during the winter when the first snow would come — the world was a surreal ghost town then with an untracked blanket of white. Having gone to a private school an hour away from my neighborhood I didn’t know many kids my age and so would spend more time with BB if I wasn’t in the library.

When I moved out my parents kept her and even looking back now I feel a pang of guilt, like I didn’t do right by her. As she got older she had trouble getting up, she couldn’t control her bowels and my parents, older themselves, couldn’t help her. Being somewhere around the 16 mark, it was her time unfortunately.

I took her to the house I was renting in East Rutherford the night before she was scheduled to go to sleep and — strangely enough she seemed to have the energy she had when she was a pup; she wanted to be near me, she wanted to play, smacking around her bottle of pills for her arthritis. She seemed to have so much energy that I began to wonder if I was making a mistake. I played with her, hugged her and wept on her late into the night until I just couldn’t stay awake anymore.

When I woke up the next morning the feeble pained dog had returned; it seems she had used up her store energy just so she could spend time with me again.

I took her to the vets and went into the room with her, placed her on the table. The vet had to shave one of her paws in order to administer the shot. I’m sobbing like a 5 year old — I think I rattled the vet — imagine a big tattooed freak like myself sobbing and I think that would rattle anyone. I remember the assistant who was trying to hold BB was saying idiotic things to her like ‘Oh you silly girl, it’s alright. Who’s a silly dog?” so that I finally asked if she could leave. The vet said she was needed. I then asked her not to talk anymore. The vet couldn’t find a vein so she had to shave the other paw and try there.

The whole time BB was trying to lick her, or lick me in the way that dogs do sometimes — in that ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’ kind of way which really … welll it added to the heaviness of it all.

Once the shot was administered, everyone backed away and I was able to get down right by her as she licked my face and was slowly going… now here’s the thing that I’ve always taken from this: I could see when she went. One second she was there, the next second she was gone – even in her fur — I’m not sure how to convey this — one second it was the fur of a living animal, the next it was just a rug, a thing. Not alive. Seeing that made it .. beautiful. She gave me something then. Yes the scenario sucked and yes it was painful — and even more importantly a gentle life was lost — but it was a beautiful serene experience. It convinced me that no matter what I might understand with my logical mind there’s no way that we aren’t anything but beings of energy; and that energy cannot be stopped, only changed. Whereever or whatever BB became at that point, she was no longer in the shell that was on the table.

People can scoff sometimes and say ‘it’s just an animal’ but they have personalities and love, wisdom and guidance for those that love them, and who will miss them when they’re gone. Even as a father, I’m thinking of the times when my daughter has gotten upset and I’d say ‘it’s just a doll’ — if my daughter has chosen this object to tell her secrets and heart to, and she loses that outlet, it’s no less real for her.

Take care man.

No shirt, no jet ride home. Only those with fur coats and 4 legs get to fly naked.

Peter..thanks for always being a true inspiration to all. Even in your time of grief you inspire us to do better. I was just telling a group of friends about your loss yesterday and we agreed that losing a beloved pet can be harder than losing another family member. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thank you soooo much for taking a moment to suggest that people adopt, not shop. You are a shining example of just how little it matters what “breed” or what “papers” a beautiful little companion has behind him/her. What matters is the unconditional love and generosity of spirit they hold and offer their human friends, the type of love one almost never finds elsewhere in life. The truly lucky ones find it in the lively halls of their local shelter, where hundreds of eager dogs and cats wait for just one thing: their forever home.

My thoughts are with you and NASA.

Cheers,
Marjorie

I’m sorry to hear about Karma Peter. She was a lucky girl to have you find her. Take care xx

Sleep deeply during your flight, dream sweet dreams about Karma – safe travels my friend!

Peter – I was out of the loop this week myself, so please let me offer up my heartfelt sympathy. It is truly impossible to know the pain of this kind of loss. But I will say that it is a direct result of how much love we get from our pet family. You do so much for others, and I’m relieved to hear that you have a support group that was there for you.

Just catching up and saw the sad news. As so many have already said – you are not alone. In early May we said good-bye to our 6 1/2 year bulldog, Conan (much too soon due to his heart). Like your Karma, Conan was my boy. Holding him till the end was the hardest – but that is the last gift I give my furbabies who have given me so much. We were able to come home to Tiki, but I still tear up (and sometimes even laugh) at the simplest thing that remind me of Conan. We don’t have human children – our furbabies are our kids. Grieve in the way that is right for you. A big bully kiss from Tiki and a cyber-hug from me.

<3

There’s a book called “Dog Heaven” that always meant a lot to me. I truly believe that we will see these little guys again. They are our family members, and we love them so losing them is a grieving process. I’m thinking of you as you go through this and will send up a prayer that it will be made easier for you, Peter. At some point, you will be ready to let another little one into your heart. (I have two rescued Westies so want to put a plug in here for Westie Rescue.) Blessings.

I hear you on the puffy eyes! I lost my dog a little over a month ago and the pain is still hard, some days unbearable. One thing that helps is knowing that people understand what you are going through. One last thing, I suggest this book…its on hold for me at the library now. Take good care.

http://www.amazon.com/Cherishe.....038;sr=1-4

holly

love never dies – whether it’s got 2 legs or 4!

You’ve got a good heart, Charlie Brown. As always, you are an inspiration, Peter. This time, in openly sharing your grief — and your love. Karma knew what she was doing when she picked you as her human! Many, many hugs to you.

Very sorry to hear about the loss of your cat and long time friend. Thank you for sharing all the blessings & comfort received from friends and family this week. As someone from a family of cat lovers, I’ve been in the same place when that sad day comes.

Peter, I married into a household with 4 cats. (One is climbing over my keyboard as I peck out this comment.) Three of them are getting up in years. Thanks for helping to prepare me for the inevitable.

You do so much for others, and I’m relieved to hear that you have a support group that was there for you.

I’m so sorry to hear this news about Karma, Peter!
I’ve only been a “cat mom” for 2 years now, and they found me on the worst night of my life, and saved me!
I think “rescue” is a great term, though I was the “rescued” one.

Nasa and Karma are identical to my Madison and Lexington, and my heart is crying with you..

Warmly,
Denise

Oh Peter, sending you a big hug. I hope you feel surrounded by warm wishes and our mutual love and respect for Karma. In many ways, Karma will always be special because you shared her with the world. Your love for her was clear every time you shared a story or mention of her with your HARO family. Thank you for bringiing Karma into our lives- you do it every day and we appreciate it and carry that memory with us.