It takes a long, long time, the enormous constant missing, dearest Anne-Elizabeth. You will never forget, but gradually remembering can and WILL become even happiness, even sharing with friends! Every animal lover knows the experience, many of us several times. Just skim down this column every day! With my most recent pet‘s death, I had learned to begin almost deliberately searching out and cherishing positive memories. Remember it takes a long, long time, the enormous constant missing, dearest Anne-Elizabeth. You will never forget. Remember how it has been with your father! Gradually, though, eventually, the sadness and grief and loneliness WILL become even happiness to remember, even sharing with friends (just everyone of us knows the experience; some of us several times). After my most recent kitty had worn out his precious body, I had learned to begin deliberately searching for positive and joyful memories as soon as I could begin. I kept a book, even by the bed, so I would not miss an instance, a moment to preserve, of how the grief of loss of a loved one -- actually the grief over any loss -- gradually can grow into a beautiful flower of memory! But most of all, Anne-Elizabeth, it has been obvious, probably to any of the many who “know” you (albeit only by internet) that almost immediately you increased enormously the already great amount of kind encouragement you have always given to so many people -- whatever their pain. You know -- probably always have known, far better than any of us can tell you -- from your congenital sharing instinct, that the greatest healing comes from the great generator of endless love that is your heart. There are so many of us to thank you. Peace, etc., Bruce Combs