Family | Posted by Jannie on 28 October 2008 @ 2:07 PM
It was sure hard keeping up the funstering mood after I read a two-line excerpt on someone’s blog about someone else taking their old dog for one last walk in the woods the morning he was to be put to sleep and I start crying to myself and the computer and the sunlight blasting through the window, remembering the day I had to put Chance down and missing him all over again like I lost him just yesterday, not 4 years ago.
And sometimes I already miss the dog we have who is 11, Peach. But Shih-tzus live pretty long, so she should be with us for more years yet, right? Still, I know the day is coming.
And it’s all so unfair. And it’s all so sad.
But a lot of it is beautiful. And a lot of it is sweet. And the best is supposed to come yet.
So I hung on until I stop crying.
And got a bit of a grip. And went and hugged Peach real close for a while. And came back and wrote this.
But it’s all a blip really. Just a freaking blip. And my blip is probably close to being half way over now.
So I better darn well get on with some funstering!
[The first photo above is of Peach, our shih-tzu, who just turned 11, taken about 4 years ago, Kelly was 3 in that one, I think, after one of her self-cut episodes.) Second photo of Carly, Peach and Kelly a few years ago too.]
[I didn't start taking digital photos until after our dog, Chance (Peach's dad,) had passsed on and I don't have a scanner yet to show you him, but believe me he was one cute little Westie - Lhasa - Poodle kind of white fluffy sweetheart of a guy.]
Peachy-Peach 2004
On 28 October 2008 at 4:10 pm
karyn said,
Your dog Peach is adorable in those pictures. I love how the first picture makes you think the dog buried your little girl.
So do you like Twilight too??
On 28 October 2008 at 4:45 pm
Jannie said,
Karyn. You have actually just introduced Twilight to me and I may already be hooked!
On 28 October 2008 at 5:27 pm
Barbara Swafford said,
Hi Jannie – I read that story of Daves. My heart went out to him and I remembered other animals we used to have. It’s amazing how we become so attached to our furry friends. I love the photos you’ve shared of yours – furry friends and children.
This is the first time on your blog. I’m subscribing so I can follow your progress. It looks “fun”.
On 28 October 2008 at 5:30 pm
Thomma Lyn said,
What precious photos. Thanks for sharing. And my goodness, how well I understand. I have four beloved cats — two of whom are ten and twelve years old respectively (the other two are two years old and four years old), and I cry when I think too much about them going to the Rainbow Bridge someday. And I hug them, and love them each and every day because each and every day they are with me is precious.
On 28 October 2008 at 5:53 pm
Lisa said,
Aw… what a sweet little dog! I have a 14 and a half year old Sheltie, who’s just been the best companion a human could ask for. She has arthritis and is completely deaf now, but she’s still a happy dog! I also have a 17 year old cat (who the vet recently told me was in “excellent” shape for a 17 year old). And I absolutely HATE thinking of how each of them is on the “downhill” portion of their life’s journey. Pets are such an amazing example of unconditional love…
I have to go give them hugs!!
On 28 October 2008 at 6:28 pm
Renee said,
Jannie, it is sad. After my divorce my dog mysteriously “disappeared.” I still dream about him and I feel like I let him down. It is a terrible guilt. I don’t even want to ever get another one because I get so attached!
The top pic does look like Peach buried Kelly and is standing proudly over his work!
On 28 October 2008 at 6:35 pm
Stephanie said,
I am so glad I didn’t read the original post you mentioned. I don’t have childre, so my pets are very spoiled. I have lost two pets and it was horrible. One we put to sleep about 6 years ago and it seems like yesterday (a Yorkie with a heart condition named Munchkin) and one we lost to old age in April (a rat terrier named Jasmine). It was truly like losing a family member. I tear up just thinking about them.
On 28 October 2008 at 7:12 pm
Miladysa said,
Cute photographs.
I love my doggy!
On 28 October 2008 at 7:53 pm
Jannie said,
Barbara, thank you, sorry you didn’t read me first on a more funster-ish day. And I’m sorry I just couldn’t click on and read the whole of Dave’s post about his dog. I guess I’m a real emotional wimp today, PMS is a wonderful thing.
Thomma Lynn, yes, hug them everyday, that’s all we can do with anybody we love, I guess. I do have a cat too, just one-and-a-half now and a 3-year old dachshund, so still “babies.”
Oh Renee that’s so sad. I’m sure it wasn’t your fault and I hope you will one day stop let the guilt go.
Stephanie, we defintely know each others hearts on this. Do you think you’ll get another?
Mildaysa, how old is your poochie?
On 28 October 2008 at 9:11 pm
Caitlin said,
I wish pets lived longer. They really are like people – like members of the family. It’s such a shame we have to lose them. Your shitzu is adorable. My sister has a shitzu too.
On 28 October 2008 at 9:24 pm
Jannie said,
Hey Caity-Girl. Yes it is sad but I guess all shall be revealed in the fulllness of time.
On 28 October 2008 at 9:34 pm
Kimm said,
Its sad when an animal has to be put down due to old age.
This post is just like the one writing for Thursday about my grumpy old man.
On 28 October 2008 at 10:28 pm
Shay said,
As you know, I had to have my oldest dog put down recently, and it is always terribly difficult. And there are times when something will bring back my favorite, Sundance, who died in 1993, to my mind and I will miss him so keenly that it’s hard to bear.
But what can we do except to “love that well which we must leave.”
Peach is…a peach!
On 28 October 2008 at 11:00 pm
Stacey / Create a Balance said,
I still miss Mindy, my Uncle’s dog when I was growing up. It’s been over 25 years, but sometimes it stills feels like yesterday. This is a great reminder that life is short.
On 28 October 2008 at 11:46 pm
Mia said,
We had an old dog that we had to take in too. That was a sad night when I had to call my husband at work and warn him about how bad she was before he came home. I didn’t want him to walk in on that. The next day, he asked that I take her in. It was just too difficult for him since she had been with him for 13 years (with me only for 3). We loved her and miss her. She was a sweet girl. Remembering them from time to time is good. Even if it does cause a blip.
BTW- I love the first picture!
On 29 October 2008 at 4:15 am
SnaggleTooth said,
It’s a heart-ache losing best, fluffy friends. Well, at least you could empathize with the expressed melancholy.
I’ve lost several 20 year old cats. Turtle was 8 just last year at this time when it was her turn. Her sister here, Mischief, now the last one I got- will about gut me when it’s her time. She’s the best friend of them all so far! Life would be so boring without animals.
Long live Peach Fuzz!
On 29 October 2008 at 4:36 am
Miladysa said,
Three human years.
We had another Jack Russell before him and I had to have her put to sleep when she was 17 human years old. My heart was broken,took many years to heal and I said that I would never have another dog because I couldn’t bear to go through it again.
And then along came Mr Sparks
On 29 October 2008 at 9:32 am
Jannie said,
Kimm, I’ll have to read that, of course.
Shay, sounds like your Sundance was my Chance.
Mia, my hubby couldn’t go to the vet’s either, I did it alone and it was hard. But, anyway…
Snag, my cat is awesome too. He is sooo freaking wonderful!
Miladysa, I’m so glad you have Mr. Sparks! None is ever a replacement for the other but we do get to love the new ones too.
On 29 October 2008 at 12:07 pm
Mama Zen said,
It’s awful how you can miss them all over again, isn’t it?
On a lighter note, that first picture had me laughing out loud!
On 29 October 2008 at 9:05 pm
Jannie said,
MamaZen. Yeah, out of the blue it hit me, off guard. But better to have loved and lost a great dog than never to have loved at all.