Izzy is Home
As you all know, Izzy shed her earthly clothes at about this time last Monday. I do have so much to tell about her last adventure, but I’ve not had the heart – nor the time – to put it all down in words just yet. You see, after last Monday’s emotionally draining events, I did the only reasonable thing to do when suffering from a broken heart.
That’s right … I went to Disney.
After all, at what better place to hide from your tattered heart than “the happiest place on earth” … amirite? Of course, for Izzy, the Happiest Place Ever was any place where people would love on her and feed her, so pretty much any time she got to go in public, it was sheer JOY! … I can only imagine just how totally and completely beside herself she would be were she ever to visit Disney. I’m here to tell you, she’d likely have had a stroke from all the fawning, feeding and, well, being practical … the heat.
Unable to stay in what feels like an empty house, I packed a bag with about 12 pounds of sunblock and headed south, yearning for distraction from the reality that my girl is gone. As I sat on the plane, staring out the window, I thought my plan would fail … it was clear to me that Izzy was following me. There was a circular rainbow just out the window. Once I spotted it, I couldn’t stop watching … I started taking photos, convinced it would soon disappear. I was wrong. On the short flight, I managed to capture photos of Izzy’s rainbow for about an hour, stopping only as we began our descent to Orlando. At first, I felt sad seeing that rainbow there but then I realized that Izzy was free to follow me wherever I go … which naturally made me quite happy.
Izzy’s rainbow and the shadow of our plane
At Disney, they asked if we were just on vacation or celebrating something special. Since we were celebrating my birthday, albeit a bit late (and I didn’t want to explain anything more about it), I was given a special button to wear around the park. Every employee – even those just walking past – wished me a happy birthday. We stopped into an on-site Starbucks so I could grab an iced coffee and, without missing a beat, a “cast member” swooped in as my beverage was handed to me so he have the ENTIRE store sing Happy Birthday (guests and all) and he presented me with a Mickey Mouse shaped cinnamon roll … totally to die for … can you imagine how much Izzy loved that?!
As it turns out, my plan worked quite well and I had a very fun, happy, long weekend. I definitely had some wistful moments, as is to be expected, but all in all, it was the perfect distraction. Like all good things, it had to end so this morning, I awoke at 4:30 a.m. to catch the early flight home … must report for duty (work)! While I tried to crane my head to see out the window to find Izzy’s rainbow, I just couldn’t get a glimpse as I was stuck in the middle. Once we landed, I scurried off to work, delivering treats such as Jelly Slugs, Peppermint Toads, and Fudge Flies from Sugarplum’s (Wizarding World of Harry Potter) to my co-workers and went about my day. Then, this afternoon, my phone rang … I glanced at it but let it go to voicemail.
“Miss Kennedy, it’s Meghan from TRVH. I wanted to let you know that Izzy has returned to us and you can come get her at any time.”
Just in time. I arrived home just in time to get my girl and bring her home with me.
Izzy’s famous gingham blanket, labeled with love by her friends at the oncology office
The wind chimes sent to me by my “family” at Triangle Veterinary
Izzy and her prints
9 comments so far
2:50 am - 8-8-2017
Okay….can’t say much right now…the tears are getting in the way….bittersweet….happy….sad….full of love tears.
I HAVE to comment on IZZY’S MAGICAL RAINBOW right now though!! That poctire….the fact that her rainbow followed you the whole way!!! And then….and the….the daynyiu return “home”, Izzy does too!!! She made sure you understood she is with you ALWAYS!!! How this all unfolded…the SPECTACULAR rainbow staying with you all that time…the unbelievable image of the plane in the center of her rainbow……AND YOU WERE IN THAT PLANE……YOU WERE IN THE CENTER OF IZZY’S RAINBOW!!! 🙂
I’m coming back later, but I just HAD to celebrate the way Izzy has connected with you!! MAGIC….SHE’S CONTINUING TO WORK HER MAGIC!!
Love and light to you dearAmy
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
12:07 pm - 8-8-2017
I am so glad you had a good time at Disney and Izzy followed you there. That was a beautiful site to see. That was one major sign that she gave you.
I am glad that the cast at Disney made your belated birthday celebration a good one 🙂
I know when Sassy came home it made me feel so much better. It was like a piece of me was back home.
Beautiful chimes that the clinic gave you. Izzy meant a lot to many people
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
2:57 pm - 8-8-2017
My heart is full to bursting for you! That rainbow is so beautiful!!! Incredible that you have a picture of that. Izzy sure loved you, to give you that sign!
Welcome Home to both of you!
Hugs & sloppy kisses from Super Stu and his pack
Petra, Paul, Soike🐾 Chester🐾 & Miss Lily🐾❤️
3:32 pm - 8-8-2017
Amy ~ I’m so glad that I got to meet you & Izzy at the Great Pawty in Virginia. I’m so sad for you …Izzy was such a special girl. She loved you so much! How amazing that she even found a way to travel with you to Disney 🙂
Hugs to you!
Donna
5:29 pm - 8-8-2017
Amy, make no mistake abput it…Izzy touched the hearts of soooo many!! The lovely wind chimes, her personalised pink gingham blanket…all done for you because of the love they feel for Izzy, and for you!
I, like everyone else at the Va Pawty, were sooooo thrilled to be able to meet Izzy!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 REALLY!!! It absolutely was a highlight!!! We were meeting a ROCK STAR LEGEND who has impacted this community in so many ways!! 🙂 Those aren’t idle words Amy. Izzy TRULY is an inspiration….TRULY a role model for what’s possible!! She has shown us when things appear “hopeless” or at their darkest…that’s only in the minds of humans! In the heart of the dog…in the heart of Izzy…nothing is hopeless and everything is possible!! 🙂 🙂
Of course, for Izzy, she had the advantage of having you by her side!! 🙂 She knew you understood she was not a statistic and always had the “right stuff” to overcome any obstacle!! Obviously, she and you both understood that the afing process isn’t something anynof us “overcome”, but it’s something we adapt to as best we can…until we can’t.
And Amy, Izzy didn’t need to go to Disneyland to be happy…..her HAPPIEST PLACE EVER was your side….and she still is. We saw that firsthand at the Va Paaty! 🙂
Lots of love furever!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too y
9:10 pm - 8-8-2017
You are all so sweet! I just know my girl loved to be around people and trust me, there are TONS at Disney! I just envisioned her in her own version of a ManniMobile, parading around the park with everyone stopping to wish her a happy birthday and maybe even give her a cookie.
It’s “funny” – when I went to pick her up, I was excited to have her back. Her paw print came out SO great and the nose print, while tough to see, shows my favorite part of her muzzle – the separation of her “chops” as I liked to call them. They were so SO cute when they presented it to me, saying “you don’t have to take it if you don’t want it” … as if I would EVERY turn something of my girl down. No way!!
I stood and chatted with the girls there and felt a little bad because there was another woman picking up her baby in the same velvet bag I was collecting. She was in tears and said, “She’s doing a lot better than I am.” We both happened to leave at the same time and she explained to me that she’d lost 2 dogs within 5 weeks. How devastating. I explained that I’d had a long time to prepare to lose Izzy (not that it made it any better, really … perhaps even worse) and that I did the only thing I could – going to Universal & Disney – because I just couldn’t be in my house without her just yet. It’s still strange, especially since I’ve never lived in it this house without her.
The good news is, she’s back home with me. I’m not exactly sure what I’ll “do” with her but I’m considering lots of wonderful things for my pretty, sweet, sassy girl.
1:50 pm - 8-9-2017
OH Amy I know you’ll find the “perfect” spot for your pretty pink princess! I too know how hard it is to loose a longtime furry piece of your ❤️. . We lost Max in January of 2016 and then in April that same year I lost my Ollie who had been my companion for almost 17 years. Such a big part of your heart and life they have become you almost can’t remember a time when they weren’t with you. May those beautiful wind chimes your vet team gave you remind you Izzys singing to you with every gentle breeze!
Sending you love and hugs!
Linda, Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie with Riley & Puppy Hank
4:53 am - 8-10-2017
I just took a closer lookat her noseprint and I see the cute little separation of her “chops”…very sweet!
Some have made jewelry out of the ashes. Alison’s mom made her a beautiful globe with some of the ashes swirled in with some of the colors. You’ll jave ro check out her blog to see the photo….much prettier than I was able to describe.
Lisa and Ken ad some wind chimes for Pofi and theybput some of his ashes in a tinylittle woolen box attached to the chimes. Inlike what Linda said avout the chimes.
10:07 pm - 8-12-2017
Wow how beautiful Amy. What love surrounded Izzy in her life, and during her last breath. Your pretty girl will return the favor a thousand times. Now that she’s a spirit angel she will leave you LOTS more rainbows wherever she travels.
I’m glad your Disney distraction worked. What a good way to celebrate the joy and smiles that defined the essence of Izzy.