I often advise, “Never look back on yesterday or forward to tomorrow because ‘today’ is what matters. I miss Holly Golightly more now than yesterday, the day before, or September 5th, the day before she passed away.

All of the photos, videos, and mementos of her bring back many once-loving memories but now are too painful to think about as I mourn her passing.

Although the typical stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance – I had none of those – just an endless hurt.

I have also heard that the stages of grief can also be the same when dying, but I have only gone through depression and anxiety during my battles with throat cancer and heart-related issues.

When I cried about Holly during her long battle with her health problems, I felt so sorry for her and not so much for me.

But I have felt sorry for myself for several days, and now I feel selfish and ashamed.

However, I do not regret having Holly put to sleep because I had Dr. Phil Andersen’s expert care that extended Holly’s life by at least an additional year.

And during that additional time with her, I tried to spend most of my days exclusively with her.

I remember the photo Annette took of Holly when she came home from visiting me in the hospital after my major surgery in May 2022.

Holly was lying with her head resting in one of my slippers.

Holly has always been there for me while I have fought my health battles with the Grim Reaper.

Here are a few of the many photos I have showing her love for me:

Holly’s Ashes (Cremains)

Seven days after Holly’s passing, the All Creatures Animal Hospital called to advise that Holly’s cremains (ashes) were ready to be picked up from their office.

As I drove to the vet’s office that morning, I was unsure how I would feel once I had the urn with remains in my hand.

I wished I could have stopped by a store to pick up a lovely gift to give to the doctor and his staff, but it was 8:00 a.m., so most stores were not open.

Besides, what is an appropriate gift to acknowledge the loving care the doctor and his staff provided Holly?

Upon entering the vet’s office, the receptionist recognized me, immediately handed me a box and a large envelope, and said they were sorry for my loss.

When I returned to my car, I sat and cried for a minute or two before regaining my composure enough to drive home.

I put the unopened box and card on my bedroom dresser, but I needed a day to open each.

When I finally opened the box and envelope, this is what I received:

Photos, memories, and the love in my heart are all that’s left of Holly Golightly.

Her cremains will be combined with mine and my other pets and scattered on a trail somewhere on the left coast.

Thank you to the many readers who sent me emails and chat messages of sympathy and love.

I will greet each new sunrise and sunset with thoughts of love for my Holly Golightly.

We will always be together.

Dedicated to Holly Golightly.

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

Turn on the radio
We’ll play it way down low
There’s a tear in your eye that’s reflecting the fire’s glow

And I wish this night would never end
The sun ain’t gonna be my friend
Lying here waiting and wishing I knew when
We’ll never have to say goodbye again
We’ll never have to say goodbye again

You must leave, I know you will
I won’t let you go until
You show me some secret for making this time stand still

And somewhere, sometime from now
Together again somehow
All of the waiting will seem like a moment, and then
We’ll never have to say goodbye again
We’ll never have to say goodbye again

The whole night
Afraid to see the light
And the whole day crying
Wishin’ I knew when
We’ll never have to say goodbye again
We’ll never have to say goodbye again
We’ll never have to say goodbye again
We’ll never have to say goodbye again

Songwriters: Jeffrey Comanor.

Here’s what Danny is listening to now: Drowning in a Tub Full of Tunes