It was late in the day when I got online and saw the news. I just stared, unable to grasp the meaning of what I was reading. My heart burned for Zenyatta and her family, Ann and Jerry Moss, Dottie and John Shirreffs, Team Z support staff Kyle Acebo, Tyler Matson and Alys Emson, and the folks at Lane’s End. I wanted so much to tell them that they were not alone, to hug each one, to bring over the comfort of a meal to each household — as we do here when a loved one has gone.
But I only know Zenny and Team Z through the wonders of virtual reality and that same pixelated reality also has the scope to distance.
Grief is an intensely private process. When we respect those most bereaved, we understand their need for privacy.
This, then, seeks to bring comfort. I hope it will stand as a sentinel to keep loving watch over Zenny and her family, as thousands of her extended human family are doing right now, all around the world.
……. My father was a master of the sciences, for which he had the kind of reverence that we see most often today in quantum physicists. When I was very young and we lost my beloved Grandpa Wheeler to cancer, Dad counselled, “Just remember, matter can never be created and it can never be destroyed. We’ve lost Grandpa in a way that’s so painful, but Grandpa isn’t gone. He’s going to be in the sun, in the rain that falls, in the oceans, in the moon, in the air you breathe…..in everything you know.” At the time, I probably understood this as a statement of faith. But it came from Dad’s reverence for life as he knew it — scientifically. (I can still close my eyes today and hear his voice telling me that my Grandpa would never, ever be gone, even though Dad died over thirty years ago.)
Of course, he was absolutely right, as I was to discover through my own studies in quantum physics, and the discourse which best captures it — Buddhism. No life is ever extinguished. It just sheds one earthly appearance to take on another. And this has nothing to do with theories of reincarnation — it’s more profound.
It has to do with the miracle that sustains all of life, from our beautiful blue planet to a simple blade of grass to a thoroughbred Princess…………
And I hold close to the miracle.
Yes Abigail beautifully expressed. We must enjoy the living we have in front of us and appreciate that gift every day. There will hopefully one day be another champion Z!
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Tony: Thank you for this lovely comment. I deeply appreciate it. Life is such a HUGE gift. You are right that we need to appreciate it. Each and every day. Abigail
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Lovely, Abigail. Thank you for helping to ease our collective and individual pain at the loss of this precious little gift we all shared for a brief time. She will never be forgotten, and I’m so glad she was named as her place as one of Zenyatta’s is assured so that others will know she was loved and will remember, too. Hugs.
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Ann Maree: I’m so happy that this brief piece sounded a note of comfort for you. I’m still struggling with my grief, as I know you are. But it’s wonderful that she was properly named, I agree. For me, the naming sets her in time eternally. Much love, my dear friend, Abigail
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Oh Abigail how your words helped I cannot fully express, but they did and thank you.
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Marlaine: I’m so pleased to bring you some comfort. And thank you with all my heart for letting me know that. Abigail
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Abigail,
Your talent with words has never been put to better use. Thank you for such lovely clarity in expressing a philosophy that is very comforting at times of loss, and this loss has shocked many. Z Princess was particularly beautiful and full of promise, losing her so soon is a hard life lesson. Like others gone too soon, she will be forever young.
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Anne: You certainly have your own talent with words. Thank you for this beautiful message. Abigail
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I was heartbroken to find out this little one passed, but really, I’m not surprised. Life is fragile and each day is precious. Thank you for your wonderful post, Abigail.
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Laverne: Yes, I agree that life is indeed precious. And The Princess certainly drives the truth of this home. Thank you for taking the time to write. Abigail
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Beautiful and so profound, Abigail! I know it sounds corney, but I feel as though my very being thanks you for these words about precious Z Princess.
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Deborah: It doesn’t sound corny at all. Thank you so much. I’m glad the article helped. Abigail
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I was in shock when I got this news. Part of me wanted to say this was not so – but the reality is that it happened and it was an accident. Thank you for the tribute.
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Sharon: I know exactly how you feel. Part of me wants to go back and fix everything so that The Princess wouldn’t have had this tragic accident. Thank you for your moving comments, Abigail
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Shouldn’t have read this at work…. Now trying to hold back the tears. THank you Abigail!
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Oh, Casey. I wish I could hug you in real time, my friend. I was crying as I wrote it. Love, Abigail
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Such a loving, lovely tribute to the princess. She will always be with us.
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Delrene: Yes, I believe that she will too. And nothing will ever change that. Thank you, my friend, for this lovely response. Abigail
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Abigail, thank you for this comfort. Such a sad thing when someone passes, especially young ones. Everyone enjoy every day and everyone special in your life.
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Kim: Thank you so much. I’m happy that the article brought you comfort, even though I know that everyone is still feeling their grief. Abigail
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When I read the news, I didn’t know what to think or how to react. Hearing about the loss of Zenyatta’s little Princess was heart-breaking and I still can’t get it out of my head. Z Princess truly had a presence of all her own and had the look of her famous mother. I know Team Zenyatta along with the people at Lane’s End are going through a rough time right now. When this filly came into the world, everybody rejoiced because Zenyatta finally had a princess of her own, the fans enjoyed seeing new pictures of Z Princess posted on facebook along with the updates on Zenyatta.com but nobody in the horse racing business likes to get that devastating news. My heart goes out to Jerry and Ann Moss, Dottie, Lane’s End, and everybody else that was associated with the beautiful filly…She’s running free now with all the other ones up in heaven looking down on her two brothers and her mother.
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Sharon: Such a beautiful response — thank you. Nothing can bring her back to us. But it is a comfort to know that she can’t ever be extinguished. She lives on through us and through all that touches us in the natural world, even as she runs free forever.
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Thank you Abigail, As we are always reminded when we lose someone we love, NEVER take a moment of life for granted.
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Darlene: So true. Of course, you probably need to train as a Buddhist monk for many, many years to learn how to live in the moment. But I believe/understand that animals do. And that comforts me as well, to know that The Princess lived every day to the fullest. Abigail
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Abigail, it looks like my earlier comment did not make it to your page so I will simply repeat what I had tried to express. Just this – thank you for presenting such a beautiful article to help us understand and grow through the grief process at this very sad time. I haven’t the right words to really say what is in my heart, but you have put things so well, I am grateful to you and to your father also for his part in sharing the view of death and grief in this way. It is a beautiful way to look at a sad situation.
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Celeste: Thank you for another heartfelt response. There are so many ways to reflect on a life, but this one is mine. It’s important to me to know that, in the words of John Lennon, echoing the Tao, “…we all shine on.” Sending you hugs my friend, Abigail
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Abigail, What beautiful words. I was devasted when I first read about Z Princesss. One sentence told to me when I was a kid (my mother died when I was 6) is: GOD PICKS THE FLOWERS AND LEAVES THE WEEDS. Thank you Abigail for your words too.
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Anita: I was devastated too. I know they’re fragile and all, but Z Princess always looked so solid on her legs. I fell in love with her like a shot. So tragic…. Abigail
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Abigail, I never fail to be amazed at how the words you write are always just the right words for the moment. You are amazing and I am in awe of your talent. I think your Dad would have been one heck of a guy and I can see where you get your Zen from. Losing Z Princess has affected so many from so many walks of life. That’s the effect that Zenyatta has had on the world. R.I.P Princess Z.
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Dear MZWTF: Thank you so very much for your kind words. My Dad was special — a man who fought for the British Royal Marines as Secret Service in WWII in Burma & Ceylon. It left him permanently scarred and only now do I realize that he lived with PTSD his whole adult life, which no-one understood. But he loved & respected animals (he had trained to be a vet but never practised) and, as a student of the sciences, was always astounded by the “worlds” they conjured up beyond our perception. Abigail
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