Compassion, Winter 2020

Winter 2020 - Compassion | www.tcf.org.uk 18 How Pets Can Bring You Both Sadness and Comfort I have discovered over the years the beneficial effects of pets, and understand totally that when your child’s beloved pet dies, that is one more loss for the parents and siblings because the pet carries memories and those memories are no more, just another nail in the coffin as it were. I do understand that many of you who do not have pets, will be astonished by my strong reaction to the death of my son's gerbil. I was devastated too, when our Norfolk Terrier, Humphry, was knocked down by a car at the age of two and a half. He had the most wonderful nature and on his gravestone, in our garden, we had the words carved 'Loving, Gentle and Kind’ , in the most beautiful writing, and this has helped enormously. All the dogs we’ve had are remembered here too. I saw too, the joy new pets can bring to bereaved families. I always remember our wonderful CEO, Carolyn who, following her beloved Rosie's death, bought a puppy who indeed brings much joy to her family. The dogs’ gravestone was commissioned from The Lettering Arts Trust, based at Snape in Norfolk, a wonderful calming place to visit if you are in the vicinity with a most beautiful shop with examples of the work of their artists. We had never liked David's gravestone so we commissioned one from this Trust to replace it. The new headstone has brought us great joy. 'The font was chosen because it is that of the Ladybird books, so many of which we read to David, and he loved. On the front we put Brown Teddy which was given to him by my parents and accompanied him everywhere. He loved 'Thomas the Tank Engine', so Thomas is going through the tunnel with all his carriage girls in tow! We added ' A gentle, thoughtful boy with a lovely smile and an infectious laugh' , which was what so many described him as. On the other side, above a copy of David’s signature, we put all his particular interests including a picture of his favourite books and also Christopher Robin and Pooh going off together. Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them in that enchanted place at the top of the forest, a little boy and his bear will always be playing.