4 posts from 2009

This poem was sent to me via email and it speaks so loudly the exact way I felt about each of my dogs that I have had to put to sleep in the past 3 years.  Katie was first on July 18, 2005.  Morgan was next on August 30, 2008.  Last was Maggie on January 9, 2009. 

You're giving me a special gift,
So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,
Your courage makes me proud.

But really, love is knowing
When your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts
Will only be in vain.

So looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic that will
Once more make me whole.

The strength that you possess,
Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done,
For it's the only way.

That strength is why I've followed you,
And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...
My partner till the end.

Please, understand just what this gift
You're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost,
And all my dignity.

You take a stand on my behalf,
For that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right,
For I believe it, too.

So one last time, I breathe your scent,
And through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you,
To grant me this appeal.

Cut the leash that holds me here,
Dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog,
My pain and struggle done.

And don't despair my passing,
For I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart,
And memory I'll stay.

I'll be there watching over you,
Your ever-faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run,
... a young dog once again.

Both the kids are playing basketball this season.  They love it.  Of course, much like Ethan's favorite part of baseball was playing in the dugout, his favorite part of basketball is riding the bench!  One time there were only 5 players (the rest of the team was absent) so he had to play the whole game and he would literally come to me during the game and say "I'm tired Mommy!  When will it be my turn to sit down??"  Ha! There's a little boy on the other team (they play the same team each week) that was on his baseball team and is in his kindergarten class.  His name is Elik.  Now, you have to understand that every single solitary time that Ethan gets his hand on the ball, he always passes.  Never dribbles and shoots.  So we are always trying to get him to shoot, shoot, shoot!  So in the game this past weekend, Ethan got the ball and immediately starts looking for someone to pass to.  There are several kids from his team screaming "I'm open Ethan!  Give it to me Ethan!!" but what does Ethan do?  He passes it to a big crowd of kids, most of whom are on the other team.  Scott and I from the sideline said "Ethan!  What are you doing?" and he said "I was trying to pass it to Elik!" and I said "Buddy, he's not on your team" and Ethan turned to us and said "But he's my friend!"  So there you have it.  It's extremely obvious that Ethan does not have an inherant competative streak....but he loves playing with his friends!  So I think we're good.

6

I got Maggie when I was only 19 years old.  I can hardly remember being that young!  She was my first baby.  My boyfriend at the time got her for me and she was the last one from her litter.  She had some big ears and wall eyes but I thought she was precious!  She lived with me and my roommates in our first college apartment...where there was a no pets rule. We had to take Maggie outside in the early morning and late at night in a laundry bag.  She was a trooper!  At our second apartment I used to let her out to run free around the complex (which was so dumb looking back) and she would always come back with some random food item that she scavenged out of the dumpster.  Maggie would go NUTS for a tennis ball. She would get this wild-eyed look and nothing could distract her.  She was also a cuddler, she would curl up as tight as she could in your lap and snore.  Maggie lived 14 and a half years and I loved every single minute of it.  She was very arthritic and in pain at the end of her life but she never lost her spunk.  She still came to the table every night for dinner and would eat anything you gave her.  She lived on our futon at the end and I still come into the room and expect to see her snoozing in her green blanket.  Her "sisters" she grew up with, Morgan and Katie, have gone before her and I can only imagine the reunion they had in Heaven.  Lots of tennis ball chasing and swimming.  I loved her so much.  And she is missed.

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