Mary and Charlie, He will be missed. We have heard so much about him and have grown to know him and love him.

Thank you for posting his story.

I am so sorry that he is gone but I truly believe he has crossed the bridge and is well again and will be there for you all.

Iam sorry for your loss.

Mary.. Charlie.. Sophie...
I wish that words were enough to ease the pain and sorrow that your hearts all feel. Time has a way of easing the pain a little but the memories of all the love you shared pave the way to a future of joy again for all of you. My deepest condolences and prayers are with you. I have heard of all the wonderful things that you do for us as a glider community and the gliders themselves. On behalf of all of us here on GC, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />!!! Kiss Sophie for us and hug each other. We love you very much. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Mary & Charlie & Sophie
I am very sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts are with you all.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

...Sophie waited the first 2 years of her life for her one true love of a life time...and like a broken leaf in a strong wind.it was over. The love...compassion and happiness are gone forever leaving...a broken heart...a broken spirit...and the longing to go with him...

She roams the cage day and night looking for him and eats very little. She sits by the door a lot...watching for him. I know in the back of her precious little mind...she knows the truth...but is just not ready to accept it yet. It was my hand that took him away...and her anger is toward me. It's easier right now to take her anger out on me than to accept the fact that he's not coming back...I understand her logic right now even tho it's wrong...it's something what she has to get through in order to let go. So I hold her...love her...talk to her...and do all I can to console her. Do I think she'll make it...no I don't. Once she accepts the fact that he's not coming back to her and her love is gone forever...her little system will simply shut down...her little heart with stop and she'll be free to go to him...where thier happiness will last forever...where time is not...do I blame her...no I don't. Do I hope that I'm wrong and she will accept her loss and go on here until it's her time to join him...yes, with all my heart.
Thier love and devotion was assembled in heaven. They were like a pair of sissors...one part is no good without the other. A part of me understands and tells her...go to your love...another part begs her to stay a little longer and let us love you....
Please pray for Sophie...

Mary

Mary, We have spoken on the phone and you know how I feel. Each word in your posts we all can grab and relate to them. The love that Pacman shared with sophie is similar to the love that is shared between you and Charlie. God had placed them with you for a reason. to have that kind of love fill a house is rare. and none of you all have taken it for granted. You gave PacMan 8 years more than he would have had, he had the best love, the best care, the best mate and most of all he had you and Charlie. What more could anyone ask for.

In our talks we both say how we thank God, that we have them (Baybe and Pacman), we knew the days were coming. For all the prayers in the world, couldn't give us more joy, than each additional day we had. Just as Smokey, PacMan was tired, he was ready to go. We know where they are and they are now without pain, they are not tired anymore, and they will be watching over not only us, but each of the gliders we have in our homes.

The spirits of them will live on forever, they will come down once in a while and help the new ones out. try to comfort them in the night, and will remain in our hearts forever.

I have found at night when all is quiet, I close my eyes, and I can still see him. I feel his presence in the room, and there are times when Baybe still cries for him. So I know, that there are times when he comes to visit her. I accept those times, and hurt inside. I hurt for the loss, but smile when I recall the love they had.

PacMan will always be there for Sophie. It is hard for her now, because her bed is empty, and her heart is heavy. Regardless if she stays with you, or goes with him, she will be okay.. because PacMan will remain in her heart forever.

Have peace my friend.. remember, our goal for our gliders.. to live long and love more. Pacman did. You should be very very proud of him for that.

My prayers will always be with you. May Sophie find her peace.

*Tears*

Mary and Charlie, I am so sorry for your loss. What a legend PacMan was! And what an inspiration you all are.

Keiko, Hiroshi, Tomoki, and I are all praying for little Sophie. May your love and Charlie's love be an inspiration to her to stay strong. May she remember only the love in her life, and not the loss. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

...Sophie made her peace with us tuesday. She began touching noses with me and tuesday night I held her weak little body and she ate very good...all this gave me hope that she was going to stay. I was up and down with her all night and she snuggled to me with love. The last time I got her out was about 5:30 am and sat at the table with her and held her close...she seemed to be so much at peace...and at 6:39 am her little system shut down...her little heart stopped beating and she was free to go with him. As much as it hurt when he died...it didn't fully hit until she was gone too. You are right Bourbon...she was his inspiration to live and he was here with her this past week and he was her inspiration to die...he wanted her to be with him. As long as she was here...in a way we had them both...it was not until she went to him that I felt the empty pain of it all. They had such a beautiful love for one another...while thier chapter here in this world is over...thier abilities have no limits now.
She was healthy...and I couldn't save her. we've saved gliders who were at death's door...and it made me angry. Now it's my turn to accept and let go...they proved for 5 years and 6 months to us that they were meant to always be together. I know that if I were in her place...I would have done the same thing...I understand thier love and what they had to do...but like her this past week...I haven't accepted and I haven't let go...

Mary

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> Oh Mary <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />

My heart just breaks for you. And for Charlie too. Although you knew in your heart that she would not be able to go on with him, I know this has got to be terribly hard on you all. If nothing else, I pray that people that read this post will see that gliders do develop an extremely close bond with each other and this is why we always say not to seperate them.
Although we all know how much Sophie loved you and Charlie and how very spoiled she was, she missed her mate beyond words. May they both have peace and happiness and fun times at the bridge now, while they look down upon you two with all that you do and proudly say to all the other critters they are up there with, *Thats my slaves doing all that work, and nobody can do it better!*

May you both find some kind of peace and may your memories of them always be cherished. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Mary, Charlie...
I am so sorry...

My children's great grandparents were like PacMan and Sophie.
It was Granddad's second marriage and Gran's 3rd. They were married for 54 years. Gran passed away and a few months later Granddad joined her. His work on earth was finished and he longed to be with his love. They shared a love that just could not be bound by earthly things nor hindered by death.

PacMan and Sophie are no longer bound either and are healthy, happy, young and free now. Nothing could be greater for them.

My heart aches for you both. Please find comfort in knowing that Sophie loved you and she didn't just waste away but took the time to love on you and tell you thank you for all the mealies. Her heart didn't stop when she passed, it stopped when PacMan left her. Now her heart beats again, stronger then ever.

Have fun PacMan and Sophie, and thank you for the lessons about love you have taught all of us.

I think if PacMan and Sophie could choose a song for you Mary and Charlie, it would be by Kenny Rogers.

"Through the years you never let me down. You turned my life around. The sweetest days I found I found with you."

May time heal your broken hearts. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Charlie and Mary,
My heart <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> goes out to you. PacMan and Sophie had a very special love that was so rare and they have you to thank for giving them this kind of love, for them to find this love in each other, and they truly lived in great happiness with each other. Please be comforted by this thought that they were very happy and so very well loved.

PacMan's and Sophie's love reminds me of the love shared by my paternal grandparents. My grandmother died of a heart attack and my grandfather did some trust fund issues first and ten months later he joined his wife of 53 years. I didn't know it then, but now I do, after having found my soulmate and true love in my husband.

I love that verse to a song that Teresa supplied, by Kenny Rogers. It could not have been more perfect for a perfect couple!


Jen

[:"blue"] While I am so sorry for you loss, I know they are together and free of all pain and suffering. [/]

...It takes true glider loving people like all of you to understand the love we have for them all and the heartbreaking pain when we lose them.
I wanted with all my heart to keep her alive and here with us...but that was selfish of me...it wasn't what her heart wanted and without thinking...I was forcing her to choose. That was wrong of me...but I loved her. In keeping her I would have her and part of Pacman too...it was meant for the two of them to be together.
Teresa...I want so bad to say..."your wrong...her heart was beating until the end"...but we both know that your right...it stopped when Pacman died. I was just to close and to upset to see it. I love ya for caring enough to see what I was over looking.
Jen...thank you for the special caring you've shown through all of this.
Thank all of you for being there with kind words...you have no idea how much it means to read the heart felt words you've written...and know that thier love...thier will to live...and thier need to go together will be remembered. That because of them other gliders can be better understood.

Mary

Mary and Charlie..I know the pain you must be in, and that only time will heal it. PacMan and Sophie were two of the most special <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> gliders there were, and it's a loss to all of us. With their passing, the glider community is somehow less than it was, even though we know they are happy and without pain now. Sending <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> and hoping time works quickly to heal the wounds they leave us when they have to go.

Oh my, my heart breaks for you and Charlie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />. Mary, would you please grace us all with a picture of Sophie and PacMan in their happier days? To see their eyes would tell the story <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />.

Karin

Mary and Charlie,

You both know how much I love you, and how important you both are to me. I pray that you both, as Sophie had found deep in her heart, to take a few minutes to say good-bye to them, that you both find in deep in your hearts to replace the pain, with the bright thoughts of where they are today.. together, pain free and in total happiness.

We have spoken of death many times, and the mourning is our personal selfishness of the absence of someone we love, the emptiness that fills our lives. Keep in mind that memories never die, and they are there at a moments need. My pain is for you both, understanding that inner need for their constant presence. I do however; find peace when I think of Pacman and Sophie. They are together forever and nothing is more beautiful than eternal love.

I cry, and I don't know if it's because of your loss of PacMan and Sophie, or if it's because of the testimony to enduring love they have for one another, and of your love for them. I cry because of the limitless, boundless, eternal love. It makes my spirit sing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

Sophie & PacMan's story has brought tears to my eyes & a lump in my throat. Both for the heartbreaking sadness that you must be feeling now and for their endless and complete love they had for each other. They will always be remembered and treasured in your heart and countless others whos lives they have touched.

god!! can't stop wiping my eyes. It's not fair... they're not supposed to die!!

I am fairly new here and was not familiar with your PacMan and Sophie...but last night I read all of the posts on this thread...and I just can't stop aching from it. When I read how he came to you...I cried. There are just soo many abused babies out there who are basically left out with the trash, it tears my heart out. How blessed you all were to find one another...and then your Sophie, the misunderstood rejected little love...what are the odds that those two kindred spirits would not only find one another...but find such love in one another? What are the odds that these cast off babies would both come to you? I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason...both the good...and yes the bad. It is clear that they lived for one another...and she just could not go on without him...for who but PacMan could ever truly understand what was in her soul? It is a love the likes of which we all dream of, and so few ever experience. The testimony of their lives is a miraculous gift given only to you...how truly blessed you are to have stood witness to such love, for without you...it would never have been. The gift that they gave to you and shared with you will warm you, and all who bare witness to their lives here...always.
Love and Strength to you
~M~

Dearest Mary and Charlie...this is a true testimonial of what it is to be rescuers. These little ones didn't trust anyone and you helped them through love and patience conquer that fear! Many long hours I am sure were invested in these two precious fuzzies and that in and of itself is what is so hard as they are not there with that special bond and relationship that you all formed. Words cannot express condolences enough to fill their place, soften the sorrow, or emptiness fill. Many thoughts and prayers are being sent on your behalf. ((HUGS)) to try and comfort. Wish there was something more I could do. IMO I say you both get the RESCUER OF THE YEAR award (if there was such a thing) for all the hard work you do with these wonderful little creatures. This is not to negate any other rescuers efforts in rescueing but this story is a wonderful tribute to the work they put in for Pacman and Sophie may they be forever happy and playful at the Rainbow Bridge!

Mary and Charlie,
I am so sorry. I really haven't stopped crying since reading this post a few days ago. Pacman and Sophie's story has touched me in a way few things do in life. It is obvious that they were kindred spirits, and found in eachother what they couldn't find anywhere else in life. I truly believe in guardian angels, and that they come in all shapes and forms, and that, without a doubt, you both have your very own angels. You did what few people could do....took in two very feisty little gliders and showered them with love, withstanding all the setbacks. In the end, I know it was all worth it for you, and please know that I really believed they died knowing how deeply they were loved....I found this quote and thought it was appropriate:

"Love is stronger then death even though it can't stop death from happening. No matter how hard death tries, it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frostyangel.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> Atleast he had a wonderful life, in a GREAT place!

Omg.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> I normally dont EVER come in this forum because I have a weak heart and cry for everything...but I couldnt pass this post up. I should be cooking dinner, but here I am bawling my eyes out...

charlie and Mary, I am so so very sorry for both your losses...I cant even imagine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> But, like someone else said, its so very sad, but at the same time, it makes my heart flutter, to know that humans arent the only beings capable of loving another so much that they cant stand to live without them. May your babies rest in peace. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> Oh my Lord. I hardly ever come in this forum, too for the exact same reason.

Charlie, that story... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> God bless your little one. You currently hold the record for one of the oldest-lived gliders in captive history. Pacman sounds like a sweetheart. My utmost condolences; I hope you and Mary will feel better with time, and Pacman's mate will recover. He's in a better place, back with his Creator in the security of God's care.

Mikey <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" />

Wow, thats amazing your glider lived to be that old. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/gliderangel.gif" alt="" /> I am so sorry for your loss of PacMan. He knows how much you loved him and how much he meant to you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Mary & Charlie,
As others do I don't come to this forum often. Charlie, I read your post about PacMan, then Mary I read your's - both were so moving. I don't deal well with crying (you would not want to see me), but that is what I did when I read them. I was so hoping Sophie would chose to live, but evidently that was not to be. Charlie & Mary, you were wonderful "caregivers" for those two little creatures (and are for all the others). You gave them the chance to have a "Wonderful Life" because you cared and loved them.

[:"red"]Have a Blessed and Wonderful Christmas and may the wonderful and sweet memories of PacMan and Sophie always be with you. [/]

Charlie and Mary: It is so difficult for me to post in Real Stories because I know just how much it hurts to lose a glider, especially one as special as PacMan. However, the fact that he lived to be 15 years old is a testament of the loving care you both gave him over the years. As for Sophie choosing to follow PacMan across the Rainbow Bridge so quickly, it simply proves that they were soulmates not meant to be parted. And so, their love story continues on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge with both becoming special little Christmas angels for you who will never forget the joy you brought to them.