| Location | New York |
| Age | 14 years |
| Date of Birth | 19/07/1997 |
| Date of Death | 07/02/2012 |
| Visitors | 300 since 08/02/2012 |
| Creator |
Faline is much more than just pet that lived in my house. She is family, friend, and cherished companion.
As a young dog, Faline had bladder stones. This meant that Faline could no longer eat the food she loved so much, all the biscuits she loved to eat and hide around the house..anything that had protein in it. Even on prescribed food up to her passing, she had rocks form in her despite eating everything she was supposed to eat.
In January 2012, we found out she had stones again, it came to no surprise to us. But there was another problem we were all shocked about, Faline now had diabetes. She stayed there for a good week to get her blood sugar in order, we would visit her, raise her hopes which helped lower her blood sugar. I know those visits helped her so much because it was a long time since the last time I had saw her wag her tail. She wagged her tail so much, and licked Mom and I, another rare sight (Faline wasn't affectionate in her old age). We finally were able to take her home, and it was great. Even though it was only for a few days, it made us all happy to see Faline be herself again with us, giving us our time to be with her like old days.
Two weeks went by, and she again was not acting herself. We then found out she was having a hard time breathing and that her kidneys were failing her. We knew then there was nothing else to do, it was her time. She was so happy to see us, wagging that tail, letting us hug and pet her. We even gave her some ham and cheese, her last happy meal she could enjoy. We were all there for her, and I know that meant the world to her.
There's more to Faline than just her illnesses, she had a long, healthy life with a family that will always love her.
As a child, I didn't have many friends...so I really wanted a dog. We went everywhere for a Lhasa Apso since that is what my Grandma and Uncle Rick had, Buttons and Duffy. Among our search, we found a nice breeder and in the box of playful, happy puppies was one puppy alone in the corner shaking. I knew from the moment I saw her, she was the puppy I wanted.
Faline is not America's glorified dog. She did not sit when you told her to sit, or roll over or anything like that. As my Dad puts it, "she did what she wanted, when she wanted". She wasn't perfect, but she was our puppy and she was always there when we needed her most. She was always there to make me feel better, even to the end when it would bring her pain to walk over to me...just to wag that tail, a rare sight most recently, looking up to me as if saying "Don't be sad Jen, everything will be okay"
Faline is my sister, Anthony is her brother or "rival" as he likes to put it, and Mom and Dad are her parents too. She loved us all, Mom especially. She was my mom's companion around the house when the rest of us were working or at school. She kept her company so she was not alone, she did the same for me when I was a child. Faline loved us all so much, and I know in my heart she is watching over us, guarding us like she always had. She was and still is, my Little Angel and she was sent here to make me happy..to make us all happy. The fact that I am here, finally with friends and dating the right person, I know she played a large role in that. Because she kept me going and was there for me when I had no friends. I will never forget her kindness and warmth, she touched us all.
Love always and forever,
Jen, your sister
PART 1
I know what you're thinking. You think I'm dead. Because you cannot see me with your human eye, cannot feel me with your hands or hold me in your arms you think I am gone forever.
You recall how I looked when I left this place and you cannot remotely imagine that I could possibly be alive in another place.
You are racked and torn by the pain of our separation and it blinds you to that which is right in front of you ... me. How many times since I left your immediate sight have you been told that I'm dead and you should "get over it?" How many times have you cried yourself to sleep because you feel like an outcast, believing you're supposed to get over me because that's what people say is normal but somehow you can't and no one seems to understand?
How many times have you put yourself through such excruciating pain because you aren't willing to consider that I am not, by any means, dead? I want you to do me a favor and go back in time with me. Remember the glorious day you brought me home - was I not the most intriguing creature you'd ever met? Did I not make you laugh and giggle? Did I not look at you with such adoration that you wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of your life with me? I wanted this too.
Remember the days when I was in my prime and we did many things together. You were so proud of me! I was a good friend and I took care of you when you cried, were angry or felt down and unhappy. When you didn't have a lot of time for me because of your obligations, I waited patiently for you. I was always there when you needed me. Did I not look at you with such acceptance and patience that at times you felt perhaps a bit unworthy? You were never unworthy in my eyes.
PART 2
Remember when age crept up on me, my bones became stiff and my movements slower. Still I met you at the door when you came home and followed you around the house. We'd been together for so long, I was your very best friend regardless of what you were doing, saying, thinking. Did I not look at you with such kindness and understanding that you felt overwhelmed? I couldn't get enough of you.
Remember the last time we saw each other with earthly eyes. You tried to be brave but I knew you were crying ... I know you so well. Better than anyone else in the whole world. Did I not look at you with such pure trust and love that you yearned only to hold me close and keep me with you always? Did you not promise that you would love me forever? I believed you.
If this is so then why have you let me go by thinking I no longer exist? Remember the depth in my eyes all those times I looked at you with adoration, acceptance, patience, trust and love. Who created this depth and love? Would the Creator diminish the song of our laughter which was created in the name of love? I am no longer an earthly figure, this is true. My body was only part of who I really am. My body would have been but a mere shell on earth if it were not filled to overflowing with my soul, my spirit, my loving light. When we met, you thought I was cute, sweet, pretty and adorable. But what kind of relationship would we have had if this is all that I'd been? How could you have loved me if I'd had no spiritual substance?
PART 3
They demand you get over me, insisting that I'm dead and you'll never see me again because animals don't go to Heaven. Oh really? I'm here to tell you different. You were worthy of my love and undying devotion on earth as I was of yours. Do you really believe this love would be snatched from us *forever* by a loving Creator simply because I wasn't human? Was I not a living, breathing creation with personality? How could I have been so if I didn't possess the energy of soul, spirit and loving light? And if this energy is and always will be, then how can it be that I am dead? If my core is not of the energy that is all of life then I was never alive to begin with. But you know better.
You cry because you miss me, this I understand. I miss you too - I miss the belly rubs, hugs and kisses that we shared. But life does go on beyond these wonderful, fulfilling physical connections. I came to this place to live a whole new life, not because I didn't love you anymore or because I wanted something better. I came here because it was time for me to go to the next phase of my existence, something all living creatures must do eventually. It is the normal progression of life. I was not taken away from you because you cannot take away that which was never owned. My presence in your life was and is a gift to be cherished and honored just as I cherish and honor you.
Life is not simply about being born into a body, living a certain number of years and then dying. Energy cannot die. We are blessed with time in a body so that we can learn, share and grow. It prepares us for the next phase of our eternal life. The body holds within it the true life force of our existence ... our soul, spirit and loving light. Without these our bodies would be empty, blank, void of feeling and expression. Without our energy we would indeed be dead and could never have experienced our love for each other.
You say that all you have left are memories. Not so. You see, when I took leave of my earthly body I left a little something behind for you. You can't touch it, hold it or examine it for what I left behind is far too uninhibited for confinement. I left behind a piece of my soul. I placed it right next to your own which is quite fitting as we were always side by side in our earthly life together. I love you too much to have left you with nothing but memories which tend to fade and grow cloudy as the years go by. I love you too much to have vanished without a trace. How selfish it would be of me to remove love and light from your life.
I understand your tears, each one you shed is testament to your love for me and I am honored and humbled. But don't forget the good things we shared - remember and smile. This is an honor for me as well. And when you need me I will be here. Close your eyes, relax, take slow, deep breaths and picture me in your mind. Shut off the world and your notions of what death is and give me a chance. Look for the subtle signs I send you. Don't stop being proud of me, I am a friend to be proud of, I am still your friend and soul mate. Don't memorialize the death of my body but instead honor and celebrate my never-ending life for it is eternal and forever as is my love for you. Until we meet again...
Copyright � Terri Onato
Beyond the Rainbow
As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.
I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.
I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide!
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.
I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the night.
'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.
For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.
(Written by CG - 1995)
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