Six months have gone….
Mar 21st, 2009 | By mervi | Category: Lead articles22.03.2009 by Knuti, Yeo and Mervi
Photos by Hartmuth, Leaf, Marion K, Natty, SpreewaldMarion, SylviaMicky, Vesa
Six months have gone since we heard the tragic news from Berlin. Six months of mourning and disbelief. Six months of sadness in our hearts. We miss you so much, TD. They say time will heal the deepest wounds but the best healer is the gift you gave us – Knuti. Our bear is a delight who brightens up our days and makes us glad by his pure existen!
Here are some of Knuti’s thoughts and memories:
Daddy was always surrounded by visitors asking questions and wanting autographs. Even when he was very busy he took his time to have a chat with people.
I like to think I was Daddy’s favourite but he loved all his animals – the big polar bears, brown bears, wolves, coytes….
When I’m feeling very sad I try to think the moments Daddy and I were fooling around in the early mornings…
I can still feel his arms around me and then I remember how much he loved me.
Oh, we had so much fun together! I’m grateful for the time I was allowed to spend with this wonderful man.
The feedings by Daddy were very special – he always found something new. Sometimes we didn’t quite agree how things should be done but it was always fun. He really knew what made me happy and often came with wonderful surprises.
We were ready to conquer the world and that’s what we did!!
We were the Dream Team! None of us never thought we would be separated in such a tragic way. I still have my memories and I also have a ‘grandmother’ who visits me quite often.
Erinnerung an Thomas Dörflein by Yeo
Nun bist Du fort. Ein halbes Jahr ist´s her.
Doch kann ich es noch immer nicht verstehen.
Es ist mir noch, als ob es gestern wär´,
dass ich Dich hab die Eisbär´n füttern sehen.
Man spürt noch die Präsenz, Du bist noch da.
Man sieht Dich noch im Geist bei den Gehegen.
Es kommen Menschen her von fern und nah
Und sprechen über Dich, die Augen voller Tränen.
Du hast so viel getan, soviel gegeben.
Vielleicht zu viel? Die Flamme brannte aus.
Es war sehr reich, Dein viel zu kurzes Leben.
Du bist nicht tot, Du gingst uns nur voraus.
There’s a beautiful memorial by Daddy’s grave showing that we will be together forever. When you visit Daddy in the graveyard, please, tell him that I’m a brave and strong bear just like he wanted me to be. Tell him that I remember everything he taught me. Tell him that I love him so much!
oh, this is so beautiful…thank you all for the memories and the words…xo k-j
Siix months! And it still hurts so much. The hurt must be a measure of the value of what we have all lost.
This is a beautiful tribute. Thanks, Mervi, and thanks to all of you who contributed to it. May the next life be for Thomas everything he would have wanted it to be.
Retta
Dear Mervi! Thank you for the wonderful Thomas-Dörflein-remember-site! That´s so touching…
Yeo
Without words…. Beautiful memories… TD lives in our Knut and in our hearts!
Chocking with tears…
This such a lovely tribute, so touching.
God Bless Thomas Dorflein and his family.
Thank you so much for the wonderful tribute to TD
Without words and with tears in my eyes
BEA
I am at a lack for words, but one thing very apparent about living is that none of us knows how much time there will be in our own lives or anyone else’s. Therefore, to pursue that niche in life that makes one most happy and fulfilled, perhaps to a fault, would probably best be the way to describe living. Thomas Doerflein will always be known for his generosity and kindness to zoo animals, and particularly to the eisbear Knut who owes his life’s beginnings to Thomas. It’s hard to believe that 6 months have passed since we all shared piqued interest in the Thomas and Knut daily adventures, although for family members and loved ones, it probably still seems as if it were yesterday that Thomas was still in their lives. The mysteries of life and death will always remain so, mysteries with which those close to the departed have greater difficulty in dealing with that departure. For those of us two steps back and continents apart, the loss is also felt, perhaps somewhat diminished by pouring over what was. RIP, Thomas Doerflein.
Frequently, I had always wondered “Was it the man behind the bear, or the bear behind the man?” It now seems silly to try to differentiate the two.
Thanks to all the tribute contributors. BH’s always, Tish
I concur with every sentiment expressed here. I am always tempted to avoid posts that mention Thomas because it still hurts so much – the grief is still raw. This was such a heart-wrenching but exquisitely beautiful tribute. At the time he left us to return Home, I did not know of this site and so I grieved alone. I am so happy I found my fellow Knutians. We can’t bring Thomas back in a physical form but we can experience the essence of his undying soul that is all around us – we can share so many memories, celebrate the joy that he and knuti re-awakened in our hearts and give thanks that we were blessed enough to have shared in this enchanting moment of time. Always Thomas….Always.
Liebe Mervi!!!
Danke für die Wunderschöne Erinnerung.Thomas Dörflein war ein Held und ein Besonderer Mensch.
Leider,Engel sind nur kurz auf der Erde,aber Thomas lebt für immer in unseren Herzen.
Sechs Monaten,unglaublich,unfassbar.
Thomas,wir werden Dich niemals vergessen.Danke für die schöne Zeit.
Für immer in unseren Herzen,für immer Unvergessen.
Mit tiefe Traurige.
Paola.
Thank you Mervi for this moving remembrance of Thomas. Thank you also to those who contributed with photos and to Yeo for her beautiful poem. Among all the other things Thomas did in life, he also brought (to me anyway) a better awareness of the efforts and dedication of many animal keepers. Although the difference with Thomas to me was that he seemed to be “one” with his bears, wolves and nose-bears. He was one of “the pack” for all of them. I agree with everyone, the wound is still raw but it helps to be able to share it with fellow Knutians.
We will never forget you Thomas.
Sarsam
Dear Mervi,
oh what a touching site! Touching words and touching pictures! There are no words to say, just tears again.
Thank you for that lovely work of art. Big hugs and dearest greetings from
Goldammer
Dear Mervi
6 Months and it still hurts. Thank you for the wonderful and touching site.
Best wishes
Inge
Hallo Mervi,
Danke für die wunderschönen Erinnerungen an einen außergewöhnlichen Menschen.
Wenn ich die Bilder betrachte kann ich es immer noch nicht glauben…es ist unfassbar.
Warum musste dieser wahrgewordene Traum so ein Ende nehmen….
Liebe Yeo,
Dein Gedicht ist wundervoll…”Du bist nicht tot, Du gingst uns nur voraus”…ja, genauso ist es!
Alex
A wonderfull, lovely tribute to Thomas Dörflein. Thank you dear Mervi
lovely regards
Simone
I want to thank you all for your kind words! How I wish I could turn back the clocks and freeze the time….Why, oh, why????
05 May 09 Gone but not forgotten.
In the hearts of people you continue to live.
You are forgotten if people do not talk about you anymore, but they still do.
Maybe not every day but regularly.
And that is what we do to keep the memories alive in our spirits.