To be fair and lift this thread back up to happier places I have two nice stories.

1. I saw the largest falling star I have ever seen in my life last week. It was so big that I not only saw green glow around the fire ball but also saw a few smaller fire balls traveling behind it. It was amazing and of course being somewhat superstitious and at that time needing any sign, if ya know what I mean, I begged for Garcia to visit me. Whether in dreams, with a sign, a familiar jingle of his tags, anything. I just wanted something to grab onto knowing he still existed in the spirit world so that we might be reunited. He truly was one of four soulmates in my life.
So the weather here is stupendous and unseasonably warm for this time of year so my troupe and I opted to have our meeting in a nearby park. As we discussed troupe matters, various joggers, doggies, kids on bikes went by and of course, many of us animal fans, goo and gaa over each dog that goes walking by. At one point I see out of the corner of my eye "Garcia". I gasped and said "Garcia!" The girls all looked to where I was looking and all gasped as well and various "Oh my Gods" escaped. I jumped out of my lawn chair and told them I had to go say hi. I asked the "daddy" if the dog was friendly and if I could approach and relayed that I had lost my dog of 10, three weeks ago and the resemblance was amazingly close. The closer I got, the more this dog looked like mine and right down to the white tipped paws, I compared the likenesses. This dogs tail was bobbed and my boy's wasnt which was the only difference. I cried and hugged and loved this dog and we exchanged sort of a little secret. I asked the man the dogs name. "Blue". Blue was to be the name of the next Australian Shepherd I hoped to get. I asked him how old Blue was. Ten. Ten was Garcia's age when he passed.
I nearly floated back to our group with both tears and a smile ear to ear for the experience.
As I settled back in, one of my girls says "That was Garcia's way of visiting you."
I couldnt agree more!

2. We got a new dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For anyone who tells you, after the loss of a furkid, not to get a dog right away, they are so wrong! Granted, I still cry and I do make joking comparisons ("Garcia would have never dug a hole like that" or "You dont like to snuggle like Garcia did" but oh my gosh, the joy a new dog brings and how much it can take your mind away for chunks of time!

I still have many sad, fond moments but the pain is cut in half with the adoption of a new baby.

Her name is Stella Blue (had to keep with the Grateful Dead references and honor my old hippie side) and she is- well, we might find out today- but we suspect a Scotty mix. She is a youth, not a puppy, but again we will find out today. She has the biggest ears for her size and she is longer than she is tall. She is so hilarious looking that I originally called her Funny Face. She makes me smile and warms up my heart.
I still visit Garnzie's grave every few days and bring flowers and "talk" to him. But Stella is right behind me to remind me not to cry for too long b/c she needs love too.
Blessings abound. We saved another one from the death box at Rabies & Animal Control.