Struggle to adjust without Bella
June 25th, 2017
Dear Sweet Baby Bella,
It’s been two months since you went to Pet Heaven at Rainbow Bridge and our missing you is more painful than ever. We love you.
As you know we have two new additions to the family with Bleu and Gracie, and we love them dearly, but there just isn’t a strong bond with them yet; to be very honest. At least for me personally. I feel this awful guilt and something just isn’t natural at this point. Maybe, over time, we will feel more comfortable together. I just don’t know.
Your bub, Jack, seems to be of the same opinion based on his body language. He seems somewhat withdrawn and stubborn recently. It could be from the summer heat and desire to lounge around in the air-conditioned house, but I truly feel that he misses you as badly as I do. It’s truly painful.
Jack and I spend so many private, special moments together and that’s really wonderful. I sneak him food and give him lots of extra special attention. I talk with him and try to explain things as best as I can. He is such a perfect guy that we cannot love him enough.
Sweet Bella, I’m going to change my Facebook logo today from your beautiful picture today and I feel an awful guilt about doing-so but I hope you can understand. I will rotate images of your beauty in your great honor just as I have with Misty.
Love,
Daddy
Kevin Neal Life Update 6/13/2017
Life in the Neal house has certainly been different since Bella went to Pet Heaven on 4/27/17. Honestly, there is an impossible-to-fill void in our hearts for her. We are doing our best but our lovely daughter of 15 glorious years is dearly missed.
Bella
Brandee, Jack and I miss our sweetest Bella like you can’t believe. This past month without her feels like it’s been 30 years, instead of 30 days. She was such a great part of our lives for 15 wonderful years that it will take time to adjust, but it’s difficult; to say the least.
It’s really hard to express just how much Bella meant to our family. She was the center of our universe. Bella provided our family such great love and comfort that we miss so badly. We can only hope that we provided such comfort in reciprocity.
We love you baby and are so happy that you are enjoying your time in Pet Heaven at Rainbow Bridge until we meet again.
BBQ
Brandee and I kicked off the Summer ’17 BBQ season with a fun-filled event at our home. We invited some of our close friends and family over for hamburgers, hot dogs and fun. We all had a lot of fun socializing and watching all the crazy activity going on. It was a crazy mix of first’s because it was the first time a group of strangers were in the house with our new kitten and new puppy.
Jackson
While Jack seems physically healthy, I get a clear feeling that he has become more distant for some reason. I think part of this is mourning for his beloved sissy, Bella, as maybe he’s still waiting for her to come home and doesn’t understand that she went to Pet Heaven. Or, and I hate to say it but I’m thinking it none-the-less, the guilt of two new sisters. Of course, these two new sissies are in no means a replacement for Jack’s beautiful sister but I can share his agony and it’s tough to adjust.
Jack is our best buddy so Brandee and I are doing extra special things to spoil our perfect son.
Gracie and Bleu
Our recently adopted 8-month old chiweenie puppy, Gracie, and our 7-week old kitten, Bleu, continue to live their carefree lives as naïve children, which has brought some sense of levity to our home that is badly needed right now. They have provided a nice distraction as we all adjust together as one big family.
Gracie and Jack seem to be getting along much better as the day’s go by. They play together for hours each day which is certainly good for both of them. However, weighing out at barely 2 ½ pounds, Bleu, has already taken control of the household. Jack and Bleu rarely have direct contact, although he does protect Bleu when Gracie gets a bit rough in her playing. On the other hand, Gracie (puppy) and Bleu (kitten) play with each other nearly non-stop and it’s really funny to witness. Even though Gracie is small, Bleu is even much smaller at something like a 7:1 ratio, yet Bleu dictates the fight (i.e. play action).
Business
From a business perspective, we have transitioned into an exciting time of sincere sales and marketing efforts. After careful planning, preparation and experienced hypothesis, we have officially introduced a revolutionary cloud-solution. Engaging with technology partners, integration partners and potential end-user clients is what I enjoy greatest so this is the most rewarding part of business to me. Looking forward to a fantastic future.
Bella Letter to Heaven, 06/05/2017
Hey Baby,
Mom, Bubby and I miss you a ton!
We are trying to move-on as a family but it’s just not there without you right now. It’s very difficult.
As you know we adopted two sissies a few weeks ago and I’m glad to provide them a home. Yet, I have to be honest that no matter how much love they bring to this household, they cannot fill the emptiness you left.
I feel so sick for Bubby, in particular. He is not the same person since you left. It’s very painful to experience and Mommy and I give him extra special attention. There is no way that we can replace your loviness for him so we just try to do our best.
We love you with all our heart and please send sweet dreams.
Love,
Daddy
Jack, Gracie and Bleu updates, 5/28/2017
The last three weeks have been interesting in the Neal household; to say the least.
Jack, Brandee and I had been leading a relatively normal life just enjoying our freedom. And then we got insane! Yep, we rescued a puppy and kitten from the local animal shelter. Meet Gracie (puppy) and Bleu (kitten).
Jackson Update
First of all, my best boy, Jackson, deserves the most credit for being the greatest older bubby to his sissies. Jack was actually a younger bubby with Bella – and she trained him well. Now that Jack is the elder animal he has been such a caring and terrific brother to his two new sisters. Jack, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you that you can’t believe it!
Gracie Update
When Brandee and I thought that we want to bring some energy into the Neal household, we got exactly what we wanted with Graciela. She is every bit of what we had hoped and then-some. Gracie loves to play with both Jack and Bleu but in distinctly different fashions which is interesting to observe.
For example, with Bleu (since she is a small 2 lb. kitten), Gracie is very gentle and cuddly when they play together. It’s amazing to watch these two play together especially since they were rescued/adopted from the same animal shelter on the same day. It’s almost like they have some sense of a kindred-spirit of sisters. However, when Gracie plays with Jack the ruff-ness (pun intended) is intensified to match his strength. Jack and Gracie love to play tug-of-war with various dog-toys we have. It’s so much fun for us humans to watch but also very healthy for them to play nicely for their body and spirit.
Jack has ‘Gracieusly’ (pun intended again) accepted Gracie as his younger sister well. He has been such a good boy that I can’t be prouder of him.
Bleu Update
Our youngest family member, at only seven weeks old, is Miss Bleu Neal. Although she barely weighs 2 pounds and is just a bit larger than the palm of your hand, she is the one person that rules our house for sure.
One of the most heartwarming things to see is when Bleu and Jack play together. You might think this would be an odd-mix with a 100-lb. dog and 2-lb. kitten but they play together so nicely that it’s beautiful.
Bleu is also extremely attached to her sister, Miss Graciela Neal. This is clearly evident in their many cuddle events or the often-playful fake-fighting sessions they enjoy together. It’s very humorous and highly entertaining.
Fish Update
We have no update other than we are alive and ignored 😊. However, seriously, I love to pay some extra special attention to our two goldfish, two catfish and one algae-eater and they appear to be doing just fine in their large habitat.
Thanks for your time reading this notice from the Neal Family Animal Home,
- The Neal’s
Rejoicing Bella’s terrific legacy on Memorial Day weekend 2017
Today, May 27th, 2017 is a bittersweet reflection for Brandee, Jackson and I. This day, one month ago, our beloved sweetie, Baby Bella, went to Pet Heaven. We are so happy that she is pain-free again, has regained her youthful spirit and is among great dearly passed friends and family at Rainbow Bridge. This is not a sad time; yet it is a time to celebrate a great life and honor the terrific memory, as well as on-going legacy, of our furr-ball cuddly Baby Bella.
This Memorial Day Weekend I know Bella wants to send a special message to all the brave and lovely people that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country. This is a message of a simple “Thank You” for your sacrifice – you are true hero’s.
While we miss Bella-ringa tremendously we’re at-ease that she is now with fantastic veterans such as Uncle Gene, Uncle Carl, my second-father Jack and, of course my lovely father, Floyd. These men all were such great patriots and loved our country.
From the Neal Family (including Bella and Misty) we encourage everyone to have a fun and safe Memorial Day Weekend. Enjoy yourself (within reason 😊) yet pause to reflect and give respect to those that have given us this great privilege to celebrate this weekend.
Love,
The Neal’s (especially Baby Bella)