Carol, what a wonderful and loving tribute to Barkley. What a fitting name to such a handsome pet. He was so lucky that your family was able to adopt him.

Thanks for sharing his pictures with us. Now I can see why Harry and Lucy have such big paws to fill. LOL.......

I hope that one day, I,too, can also smile when I look over at Marley's spot. I know it will take time.

Just by looking at his picture, I can just imagine all the wonderful memories and stories you have of Barkley.

       Beautiful  memorial, for one beautiful guy

                            kathy

I just read mgt's post on her thread with the song lyrics---

this song is what my hubby and I call Barkley's song ---of course it is from Annie Lenox--Into the West  On his laptop he has it set to play this song when we open Barkley's picture file----I think it pertains to alot of our loved ones here.  I now think of Jessica too with these lyrics....

Into The West
Artist:Annie Lennox
 

Lay down,
your sweet and weary head.
Night is falling.
You have come to journey’s end.

Sleep now,and dream
of the ones who came before.
They are calling,
from across a distant shore.

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see.
All of your fears will pass away.
Safe in my arms,
you’re only sleeping.

What can you see,
on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea,
a pale moon rises.
The ships have come,
to carry you home.

And all will turn,
to silver glass.
A light on the water.
All souls pass.

Hope fades,
Into the world of night.
Through shadows falling,
Out of memory and time.

Don’t say,
We have come now to the end.
White shores are calling.
You and I will meet again.
And you’ll be here in my arms,
Just sleeping.

What can you see,
on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea,
a pale moon rises.
The ships have come,
to carry you home.

And all will turn,
to silver glass.
A light on the water.
Grey ships pass
Into the West.

Carol, that is one of my absolute all-time favorite songs!  For those of you who don't know it well, it is from the end of the movie "Return of the King" in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  If you look into the history of the song, I believe some of the lyrics were written by a young person dying of a terminal disease, which makes it even more profound.  I've been known to sing it in my car for hours during times of grief.

Awww Carol, what a handsome boy.  I think he looked so proud of himself, kind of like the first time a little boy puts on a suit.  And those dear, sweet, aging eyes, reall tugs at the heart strings. 

Carol- He looks cool which is what mattered !I laughed about the cats not knowing him . My DH has always had a beard & mustache & when the kids were 3 & 6 he decided to shave them off. When he came out that way,both kids started crying.They didn't know him w/o it.

Barkley left us three years ago today.   It was a very hard decision.  We had found out in June that he had metastasized hemangiosarcoma-spleen, liver and blood vessels, and at age 13 we decided on comfort measures at the suggestion of our vet.  I can remember laying on the floor with him and Mike watching the last day of the Tour De France as we are big Lance fans and ride a tandem ourselves.  Mike and I knew it was time as he would no longer eat and he fell under the bushes at the tulip tree and could not get up without me lifting him.  He did go for a final swim as he loved the pool.  When Mike called our vet he came right over "to evaluate him" but we knew what action he would take and we tried to be ready.  But I know now that one can never be prepared...   In honor of our much loved Barkley I went to the CD collection this am which is very hard to do...and I found some special pix I share with you..

Thank you for posting these in Barkley's memory, Carol.  I find the one with Jessica especially poignant.  {{{hugs}}}