[into forever] | newburyport, ma

His friends are more than fond of Robin

He doesn't need to compliment them

And always as he leaves, he leaves them

Feeling proud just to know him

When Robin goes on holiday

There's no one livin' in our lane

Oh yes, folks still live in our lane

But they're not like Robin

Robin, I've never told you

But I'll be yours until we're old

Please learn to call me in your dreams

The way I'm lookin' at you is just as it seems

He's talked about before he gets there

Though he can never understand it

And I would like to be his alone

But I'm shy and can't demand it

But when Robin gives his love to others

There's no one living in my heart

Oh yes, I keep others in my heart

But they're not like Robin

{c. simon}

she held the photo in her hands and the sound of crying began. soft at first, but it became increasingly louder - she was so distraught. how can a 6 year old be so intuitive, so sensitive - she has a heart as big as the world and a kindness that is so touching. the photo she held in her hand was of robin. robin the cat. her cat. she remembers him. sadly robin left us when annie was about 3. but her memories of him are sweet. her favorite she told me, through her tears, were of her chasing him and pulling his tail and how he didn't even scratch her, "because he loved me mom, he really loved me". and it's true. this little guy loved annie. he was a bit of a "scaredy" cat - so having a baby in the house was new to him. but we would often find him napping in her bassinet, cuddled up around her blankets and sweet stuffed animals. he would sniff her freshly bathed head and was never far from where she was. annie had experienced her first loss in life, her beloved robin. and it still stings. there are times it hits her like a freight train and her sadness is unconsolable. like last night. she cried for an hour. clutching her framed photo of her first love. falling on the bed in tears. her little shoulders quivering up and down with each sob. it made me cry to think how sad this little girl of mine was. how truly heartbroken. we have robin's ashes in a beautiful wooden box with a plaque - his name engraved in brass - and his years on this earth. {she refers to them as robin's "rashes" and i never ever had the heart to correct her - i know i must, but really how sweet is that}. as i cradled my little girl, she asked  me to play his song. the carly simon song from which he was named - but she soon asked me to turn it off because it made her even  more sad to hear his name being sung. the truth is, he was a wonderful pet who is missed tremendously and loved so dearly. and wouldn't he be so happy to know that his little annie still cries for him and that he was once and still is - so cherished, into forever.