Caravan's Lai'f Morafiq

March 18, 1993 - December 26, 1998

"Parting is all we know of heaven
And all we need of hell."
-Emily Dickinson


This page is a tribute to an individual who meant the world to me - and still does. In 1993 my parents kindly agreed to buy me a dog as a gift for my 18th birthday. With the help of my friend Susannah Thyni I acquired a golden Saluki dog named Caravan's La'if Morafiq, or Morafic for short. I had decided upon this name as it is Arabic for 'friend' or 'companion', which I felt was an appropriate name for this little life that had been given into my care.I picked him up on a beautiful spring day - May 10th 1993. He was the cutest little thing you could ever have seen.


Morafic grew up to be a wonderful and colorful personality - a dog in a million. He loved children and would play for ages if given the chance, and he would have given his life to protect me. I always felt safe when he was with me. I could go on and on about his habits, his silliness, his 'king-of-the-world' attitude, the games we played... but I will sum it all up by saying that to me he was everything - I loved him beyond words and would have given my life for his, just as he would have given his for mine. A story too long to tell, but in a way he did save my life just by being there, by giving me a reason to go home during a difficult period in my life. I am not so sure I would have been here today, had it not been for him.


Unfortunately his life ended much too shortly, and there was nothing I could do. Throughout his lifetime he had quite a few health problems, and in the fall of 1998 it started to go downhill rapidly. He came down with a severe case of diarrhea in September, and never really got back to full health. One weekend in November I left him with my then best friend as I went to visit friends to England, and shortly after I had left he turned acutely ill and almost died. A visit to the vet revealed that he suffered from pancreas insuffiency, and he was put on medication. Alas, this did not help long - on December 26th I had to make the decision to finally put him to rest. He went to his eternal sleep in my lap at only 5 1/2 years of age, and the months that followed his passing were so horribly and devastatingly painful that no words can ever describe them. Had I not had the support and love of my friends and family I would have succumbed to grief. A major part of my life had been taken from me, and there was a void in me that drained my soul of all light for a long time to follow.

I learned many things during the oh so painfully short time with this amazing friend. I learned a lot about compassion, unselfishness, unconditional and fierce love. I learned that death can be silently beautiful - that I need not be afraid. I am grateful that I could give Morafic the ultimate gift in return for his love and protection - a swift and painless death that put an end to his suffering.

I scattered his ashes on May 8th 1999 in a nearby forest, where the wood-anemones grow thick and lucious. It is peaceful and serene place, and I feel in my heart that he is content with the spot - it is almost as if he gave me his 'approval' when I was looking for the best place a few days earlier.


I am confident that we will meet once again in another time and place, but until then I will miss and love him every day for the remainder of my life. Here's to you Morafic - thank you for making my life wonderful, bright and beautiful in the few years we had together. You are always in my heart. Death shall have no dominion.
 
 

This page is a tribute to an individual who meant the world to me - and still does. In 1993 my parents kindly agreed to buy me a dog as a gift for my 18th birthday. With the help of my friend Susannah Thyni I acquired a golden Saluki dog named Caravan's La'if Morafiq, or Morafic for short. I had decided upon this name as it is Arabic for 'friend' or 'companion', which I felt was an appropriate name for this little life that had been given into my care.I picked him up on a beautiful spring day - May 10th 1993. He was the cutest little thing you could ever have seen.

Morafic grew up to be a wonderful and colorful personality - a dog in a million. He loved children and would play for ages if given the chance, and he would have given his life to protect me. I always felt safe when he was with me. I could go on and on about his habits, his silliness, his 'king-of-the-world' attitude, the games we played... but I will sum it all up by saying that to me he was everything - I loved him beyond words and would have given my life for his, just as he would have given his for mine. A story too long to tell, but in a way he did save my life just by being there, by giving me a reason to go home during a difficult period in my life. I am not so sure I would have been here today, had it not been for him.

Unfortunately his life ended much too shortly, and there was nothing I could do. Throughout his lifetime he had quite a few health problems, and in the fall of 1998 it started to go downhill rapidly. He came down with a severe case of diarrhea in September, and never really got back to full health. One weekend in November I left him with my best friend as I went to visit friends to England, and shortly after I had left he turned acutely ill and almost died. A visit to the vet revealed that he suffered from pancreas insuffiency, and he was put on medication. Alas, this did not help long - on December 26th I had to make the decision to finally put him to rest. He went to his eternal sleep in my lap at only 5 1/2 years of age, and the months that followed his passing were so horribly and devastatingly painful that no words can ever describe them. Had I not had the support and love of my friends and family I would have succumbed to grief. A major part of my life had been taken from me, and there was a void in me that drained my soul of all light for a long time to follow.

I learned many things during the oh so painfully short time with this amazing friend. I learned a lot about compassion, unselfishness, unconditional and fierce love. I learned that death can be silently beautiful - that I need not be afraid. I am grateful that I could give Morafic the ultimate gift in return for his love and protection - a swift and painless death that put an end to his suffering.

I scattered his ashes on May 8th 1999 in a nearby forest, where the wood-anemones grow thick and lucious. It is peaceful and serene place, and I feel in my heart that he is content with the spot - it is almost as if he gave me his 'approval' when I was looking for the best place a few days earlier.

I am confident that we will meet once again in another time and place, but until then I will miss and love him every day for the remainder of my life. Here's to you Morafic - thank you for making my life wonderful, bright and beautiful in the few years we had together. You are always in my heart. Death shall have no dominion.

 

This page is a tribute to an individual who meant the world to me - and still does. In 1993 my parents kindly agreed to buy me a dog as a gift for my 18th birthday. With the help of my friend Susannah Thyni I acquired a golden Saluki dog named Caravan's La'if Morafiq, or Morafic for short. I had decided upon this name as it is Arabic for 'friend' or 'companion', which I felt was an appropriate name for this little life that had been given into my care.I picked him up on a beautiful spring day - May 10th 1993. He was the cutest little thing you could ever have seen.

Morafic grew up to be a wonderful and colorful personality - a dog in a million. He loved children and would play for ages if given the chance, and he would have given his life to protect me. I always felt safe when he was with me. I could go on and on about his habits, his silliness, his 'king-of-the-world' attitude, the games we played... but I will sum it all up by saying that to me he was everything - I loved him beyond words and would have given my life for his, just as he would have given his for mine. A story too long to tell, but in a way he did save my life just by being there, by giving me a reason to go home during a difficult period in my life. I am not so sure I would have been here today, had it not been for him.

Unfortunately his life ended much too shortly, and there was nothing I could do. Throughout his lifetime he had quite a few health problems, and in the fall of 1998 it started to go downhill rapidly. He came down with a severe case of diarrhea in September, and never really got back to full health. One weekend in November I left him with my best friend as I went to visit friends to England, and shortly after I had left he turned acutely ill and almost died. A visit to the vet revealed that he suffered from pancreas insuffiency, and he was put on medication. Alas, this did not help long - on December 26th I had to make the decision to finally put him to rest. He went to his eternal sleep in my lap at only 5 1/2 years of age, and the months that followed his passing were so horribly and devastatingly painful that no words can ever describe them. Had I not had the support and love of my friends and family I would have succumbed to grief. A major part of my life had been taken from me, and there was a void in me that drained my soul of all light for a long time to follow.

I learned many things during the oh so painfully short time with this amazing friend. I learned a lot about compassion, unselfishness, unconditional and fierce love. I learned that death can be silently beautiful - that I need not be afraid. I am grateful that I could give Morafic the ultimate gift in return for his love and protection - a swift and painless death that put an end to his suffering.

I scattered his ashes on May 8th 1999 in a nearby forest, where the wood-anemones grow thick and lucious. It is peaceful and serene place, and I feel in my heart that he is content with the spot - it is almost as if he gave me his 'approval' when I was looking for the best place a few days earlier.

I am confident that we will meet once again in another time and place, but until then I will miss and love him every day for the remainder of my life. Here's to you Morafic - thank you for making my life wonderful, bright and beautiful in the few years we had together. You are always in my heart. Death shall have no dominion.