You can't expect Brian to cozy up to you, if you are distancing yourself away from him -

Pets are great, but there is no way animals can be compared to people -

ALet it go -

June

Oregon,

As another person who understand "furry soulmates" I am very sorry to hear about your loss and espeically at this time. Dogs are always there for you, no matter what. I know you don't think Duke can ever be replaced but some day another dog will pull at your heart strings. Once a dog person, always a dog person. I've still got photo albums of all the dogs I've ever had since I was a little kid. They leave their footprints on your heart, don't they.

Having been following your story with Brian I have to agree that you are doing the right thing. He doesn't want to be involved long distance with you anymore. I know that hurts but long distance affairs are hard to maintain under normal conditions and almost impossible when one person is ill. They have to concentrate all their energy on their health issues---and rightly so---but if you're not right there physcially to help then it's hard to understand how hard it is for someone to hold on to their dreams for the future. You've become the bitter remainer to Brain that his life can never be all that he wanted it to be.

It probably would have been different had you been the real-time girlfriend (as opposed to the virtual girlfriend) and you'd had a longer history together. In any case, don't let the pain of how this is ending devalue both the real and virtual time you did get to spend together. We take something valuable away from every person we meet in life so remember the positives---from what I've read in your blogs---out weigh the negatives.

Jean

Jriva, thanks for your input. Those that haven't had that special animal bond just don't understand. I picked up his ashes today Made the finality of it seem all the more real.

And I have just decided to distance myself from him. He's the one that's been pushing me away. So, I just have to appreciate what we had and move on.....again. I hate being alone but I've been alone for so long, might as well get used to it. I just hate that fate took away what could have been a happy future. That's the happiest I"ve been in my life.

Oregon,

You've got two big issues to mourn in your life right now. Take the time you need to do that but also keep the door open a tiny crack in case Brian wants to wander back into your life someday. And if he doesn't, at least your heart knows what love is now and once that had happened, it's easier to find it again with someone else.

Take care of yourself. Jean