A story from McKenna about Marley and Me posted 02/25/2003 Hi, I have writen on here before about me dog Malichi. I am sorry about the spelling mastaks, but I can't lie. I was crying to much to notice. A friend brought it up to me when I e-mailed them the site. I just wanted to add that we just(January 16) got Malichi's ashes back today. It may seem crule to "burn" them, but Malichi's body stays under my bed. It helps me when I am sad to know that he is really still here. I could not burry him because we will be taking Bella out of town. And not coming back. I could not dare part with Malichi. Also, I had to add that John's book has really helped me. Many people could not ever put their loss into words. Here is diferent. I feel confurt in talking about him. I don't know how john may have felt after writing Marley and Me, but I know that I fell better. I never wanted to beleive that Malichi had really died. That dogs could not really die. Thought I still beleived it when I read the book, I now know other wise. I now know that every one who owns or has owned a dog will or has gone through this unbeleivable pain. Still Marley and Me has almost as if healed me from my loss. After losing Malichi, I did not want to get another dog. But after all. I don't think that Bella can go another day with out a friend. We are considering a shar pei. Boy of coarse. He is a shelter dog, about Bella's age. He is cute and sweet, but nothing like Malichi. john, I just wanted to thank you so so so much for your book marley and Me. Also, to all you daog owners, I want to tell you that it is okay to miss something. To know that nothing can change what you thought about it. And mostly, that we all say nothing can replace a lost pet. But deep down, 10, 20 years from now, we will all find another perfect pet. We will all soon meet our lost pets again. Thank you all so much. Love you all. A story from McKenna about Helping Poems posted 02/25/2003 Again, I know I have writen here before. But after we lost Malichi, the vet that brock the news to us sent us these poems. They also helped us with our loss. Hope they help with yours. Here we go... For thoses we have lsot, but will always remember in our hearts. Friends enter and leave our lives, but the impressions they make on our heart stay with us forever. Our sympathy is with you in your loss. The Doctors and Staff of Blah blah blah blah next one (this one made me cry) When God made the animals he had us in mind... They needed some people with hearts warm and kind. And we needed something to fill up the space that he left in our hearts Called the Animal Place So hug them and love them there only on loan...when there time here is over he will welcome them home. no, sorry this is the wrong one but going on so sorry guys, I have looked every where(fridge, Malichi's Bos, Bella's hidding spot) But I can't find it. This poem was my fav. It helped me understand that all dogs die and all humans die. It is a sad thought, but when I remember that I will see all my lost pets, I cry no longer. I hope these poems help you with your loss. i also hope they will go to the front of the page. If yothey will go to the front of the page. If you have any other "Helping Poems" submit them to this site, and or e-mail me at going4thegooooal@hotmail.com or mckennaarcher@yahoo.com either will do. thanks so much for all your support (also, sorry about the dates on the others. Computer was kind crazy then) A story from McKenna about Malichi posted 02/27/2003 our last dog had pasted away and we missed our furry friend. I suggested getting a shar pei puppy. That was the only breed of dog we had ever had. Looking in the newspapers was no help. Not even many people new what shar peis were. About four weeks into the search, we found a shar pei breeder. We jumed on the chance for the puppies. When we went to look at the dogs, all of the dogs were quite large. Two were runts. One so little that she could not fight for food, the other just brave enough to get in the group. The man saw us looking at them, "The boy will be 100, girl, I'm letting her die. But I will give you her free if you take the boy." We took the deel. The vet immdiately said that the girls chances were little to none. The boy though had a larger chance. Day into having them, we became very attached. We named them Bella and Malichi. The got sick quite offten, but even the vet saw the improvement in Bella. We never saw any thing wronge with Malichi. At 5 months old, we took the two to Dallis. While we were there Malichi and Bella stayed in the hotel. We came to check on them often. At about 2:00 we came home to find Malichi very ill. after many minutes of trying to hydrate him, his paws felt cold. Clamy cold. We got in the car and rushed him into a nearby emergence clinic. While we waited in the room to find out waht was wronge, we cryed. Bella was still at the srange hotel, alone. When we had left she had know that Malichi was sick. When we took him she cryed. Our hope was that we could get him back to his sister. The vet came in. "He has parvo." The news hit us like a rock. Parvo, how had he gotten parvo, but bella was fine? After the vet told us the condistion he was in and how likly he was to survive, another lady came in. "You own the 5 month old shar pei right?" "Yes" "I am so sorry, his heart just stopped and he is no longer breathing." We sat there amazed at what had just happened. Our fighter pup that fought for his life with big dogs just died. They brought back his body. They allowed us an hour with him, to say our good byes. This was the last picture of him. Taken the day before his death. That is Bella in the back. They were so little then. Bell is fine now. (January 14 2009) She has just found her voice. Non-stop barking fills the house. She is much bigger now, though she has constant check ups by the vet to watch for parvo. Her birth day will be May 6. Only a few more months till her first birth day. I read Marley and Me in bed with Bella.(She was confused by all of my crying) It brought many thoughs of Malichi into my mind. Just a John, some un-importent thoughts poped into my head. I am sorry for all the losses of dogs in this world. But missing something is part of what makes it a good memory. A story from Alicia Hart about Catholic upbringing at Brother Rice posted 10/23/2008 John, I sit in front of my fire this morning shedding tears after finishing "The longest Trip Home." I awoke to see my son off to Brother Rice and couldn't wait to finish your story. You see my upbringing in Birmingham, attending Academy of the Sacred Heart and then busting out to attend Seaholm feels quite parallel to your experiences and your struggles with the Catholic faith. You have so poetically expressed your story! My Brother, Marcus Gillette (although at the time may he have been suspended for selling pot) and my Brother in Law, Kevin Hart were freshen with you at Brother Rice. They graduated in 1975 as well. Both my daughters now in college attended Marian and my son Tyler will graduate Brother Rice in 2011. My husband, also a BR Graduate and I have raised our children in the Catholic school environment but without the extreme commitment to the faith. Our purpose in makeing this choice was to expose them to catholicism but allow them to ultimately make the choice for themselves. In addition, when you spoke about Brother McKenna and Bob Stark and the impact they had on you, this tradition of commitment from Brother Rices teaching staff continues today. My son is challenged with Dyslexia and they go the extra mile daily to help him be successful. What a great time it was growing up in the 60's and 70's and how blessed we were to have big catholic families with big catholic traditions. In Birmingham I call it the "catholic mafia" because so many of my kids friends are children of the friends we grew up with. As a member of Pine Lake Country Club, I loved your story about the fireworks. What a catastrophy that could have been. Thank you for sharing your story and for sharing Marley as well. I have a 3 year old golden who is the love of our lives. Some day I hope to write a childrens book about him titled "What's up Chuck!" Regards and my best to you and your family, Alicia Hart hartrealtor@aol.com Read More Stories > Begin Sharing Your Story >