Rekindling the Friendship Flame

I had a nice surprise last week (one week ago today, to be exact). I'd been told by a few sources to expect another one of my old kitty friends to join us soon, but they didn't tell me who or when it would be. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Charlie come strolling over the bridge. Actually, strolling is an understatement. He came running, all excited, almost like a horse in a gallup. He gave us all a quick hug, but said he had to tend to some unfinished business before he could chat with us in depth. Velvet later told me he was going to see Peggy, since she was his original owner. She picked him up as a stray when he was just a kitten, and had him until she passed away in November of 1998. They haven't seen each other in over 9 years, so they had a lot of catching up to do. I'm sure he wanted to thank her for her love and for sending him to live with another family who loved him just as much as she did. I can't wait to talk to Charlie again but I can be patient until he and Peggy have had a chance to get caught up. I mean, I've been patient for a year and a half so what's a few days more?

Sunny and Warm on the Bridge

There's been a ton of snow being dumped on my humans lately. I'm kinda glad I'm not there right now, because I would've been way too cold to handle it. I shook even in the dog days of summer. Sometimes, if I had to go out in the cold, Mom would put a sweater or little pink parka on me. That's what she did with Kisses today, using my old parka. I gotta admit, I felt a twinge of jealousy. But then I remembered how nice and warm and sunny it is on the bridge, all year long. It's too bad my humans can't be here to enjoy that with me.

One year + change

I've been on the bridge for over a year now. It's hard thinking about how much I miss my family. I wish I could be there to spend one more Christmas with them or sleep on the couch next to my mommy while intimidating the kitties just one last time. I'm not sure what they did on the anniversary of my passing, but I'm pretty sure it involved trying not to think about it.

Familiar Footsteps

Today I was joined on the bridge by my kitty brother, Bro. Joy and I were alerted to his impending arrival about a week ago, so we've been watching intently for him. Then, in the wee hours of the morning, I heard familiar footsteps coming down the path. I started wagging my tail excitedly. Joy purred in anticipation. Soon, I was able to make out his silhouette in the clouds. We ran over to meet him and welcome him home. He looked so happy and free! The three of us hugged and he told us he'd been looking forward to seeing us again. We told him we had a surprise for him. Then, out came his long-lost brother Mini! Joy and I never met Mini on earth, but he and Broey were such close friends, Bro grieved for days after Mini died. They were so happy to be reunited, they wrestled with each other and purred! They reminisced about all the mischief Bro used to get them into. It was funny hearing their stories.
After they had a chance to get caught up, we were joined by Seppy, Chrissy and Kizzy. It was a joyous little family reunion! There were all sorts of other animals there that had also graced our family with their lives in some way (my aunt and uncle's old dog ToKo, my other aunt and uncle's dogs and even their old bird, Taco!). Kizzy introduced Bro to Troubles, our mom's old dog when she was growing up. Troubles died way before we were born, but she and Kizzy had quite a little rapport going back in their youth. She and I actually look a lot alike! There's so many animals to meet up here, Bro is going to be plenty busy! He's still feeling burdened over leaving his family, but I assured him they know he's doing well now. I'll make sure of it!

Six Months on The Bridge

Tomorrow will be the 6 month anniversary of the day I left home for good and moved over to Rainbow Bridge. I can hardly believe it's only been six months because it feels like forever since I last sat on my mommy's lap on the couch, or made funny gurgling noises when begging for table scraps. I've already been replaced, too. Well, I know I'm not "replaced" but I can't help feeling a little jealous of Kisses. If I were still alive, I know I could take her down in a fight! And, believe me, I would've tried! I always enjoyed a challenge, especially when it came to territory issues.
Well, now my territory is strictly on one side of the Rainbow Bridge. It's much bigger and more beautiful. The only thing missing is my mommy's loving touch. I hope she knows I'm doing well in spite of how much I miss her. I wish I could tell her that myself, but apparently there's rules here against it. I would also tell her Chrissy says 'hi'.

I'll always be remembered

My friends, it is with deepest sorrow and regret that I announce to you all that I crossed the rainbow bridge this morning. I had been very sick lately, but I always managed to pull through whenever I had my seizure-like episodes. Today is different, though. It is with a very heavy heart that I leave this earth. It pains me to leave behind my family, especially my mother, who was my closest friend in the world. I hope that everybody who prays will pray for her to bear the burden of losing me in my earthly form. Thank you to everyone who reached out to me in any way and cared for me. It is because of you that I lived as long as I did, and that I managed to go from an abandonee to a beloved pet. I lived a long and happy life and I have no regrets whatsoever, except that I would've lived longer. But, I know that it was my time to go and I will be very happy where I'm at now. I'll be with you forever in spirit, and I promise I will be waiting here patiently to meet you at the door again someday!

Confession #3

I had 3 separate seizure episodes yesterday; one right after lunch, one in the evening and another one a few short hours later. However, I went to the doctor's last week and discovered I'm not actually having seizures at all. Apparently, I'm just passing out from lack of oxygen. You see, a couple years ago the vet examined me and determined I was suffering from a collapsed trachea, which is pretty common in small dogs like me. So, when I get excited or worked up about something, I'll try gasping for air but my narrow little throat just collapses on me, so I make choking noises and then pass out. Once I pass out, I relax and my breathing slows down, but there's a couple of minutes in between then when I'm completely unresponsive.
The vet also determined I have an enlarged heart, and a murmur. So, I'm on 2 different medications, a vaso-dilator to open my blood vessels so my heart won't have to work as hard to pump blood through my veins. And, I'm also on prednisone to control the swelling in my trachea. Anyone else who's ever been put on that stuff knows what its side effects are: appetite stimulant! I'm eating like a piggy now! If Kirby doesn't get to the food bowl in time, too bad! You snooze, you lose, I guess.
My mommy was near hysterics last night during my last episode. Sometimes, it takes me a while to come out of it. I just go limp and look like I died in her arms. It's so heartbreaking for her to watch! And, no, it's not exactly a picnic for me either. Mommy keeps telling me she's not ready yet for me to go to the rainbow bridge, but truthfully, I don't think one can ever be ready for something like that. She'll just have to trust me to know when the time is right for me to leave and be happy for me once I've moved on.

Special Delivery....I hope!

I'm expecting a present to be delivered to me today. My mommy ordered me a doggy stroller out of LTD Commodities that has been on backorder for a month. It was shipped last week and is scheduled to arrive today. I hope it gets here soon because I'd like to be able to take walks in it before the weather gets cold again. I'm very sensitive to cold weather. I shake and shiver even during the dog days of August! (haha, pun intended!) I know Kirby's gonna want to borrow my stroller from time to time. She just better return it to me in as good condition or better!
Did I mention I've been having a lot of seizures at night lately? I had 2 the other night and another the night before. Every time it happens, my bladder lets loose, so I've soaked my parents' bed every time, and they end up having to strip all the sheets off and wash them. I wish there was something someone could do for me. Or, I wish I could do the laundry so I wouldn't feel like such a burden to them, even though they tell me not to worry about it.

Confession #2

I had a really bad seizure yesterday. I don't remember what happened but when I came to, everyone was standing over me all worried. I've been getting really thin, too. Fortunately I still have lots of love in me. But, for my family, not for those annoying other animals. They bug me. Although, they were worried about me yesterday, too. Every time I have a seizure, they stand over me and bark until I come to. It's nice to know you're cared for, isn't it?

Confession #1

My name's Brandy and I'm a tequila rat. (Yes, I meant for that to come out sounding all A.A.!) I'm a rescued chihuahua who weighs less than a football, and I'm about the same size as one, too. Here's a funny little fact about me: My name is Brandy and I live on Champagne Ave. Cute, huh? I live there with 2 other dogs (who bug the crap out of me) and 8 cats (who also bug me quite a bit). I am a very happy dog as long as they can just let me sleep peacefully where I want to. I'm very old, so I need my siestas! I've been having seizure issues, too, especially when something excites me, like the neighbor's dog or unexpected company. I always come out of them OK, but it really scares my family when I do this.
My guardian who made this webpage for me loves to write songs and poems. She wrote one for all of us so I'd like to share mine with you. This one's called "Tequila Rat" (natch!):
The size of a football is our chihuahua pet.
She hides in pillows when she's upset.
She hates unwanted company
and no more scary could she be!
Raise a glass to our Tequila Rat!
Her name's Brandy, and she'll drink to that!

And here's a song she wrote about me, sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle Dandy":
Brandy's a chihuahua who will bite you if you pet her.
She's mean and territorial, so don't you dare upset her!
Brandy's tiny but she's tough. She'll fight you to the death!
And, her most effective tool is her atrocious breath!

That sure sums me up, doesn't it? Thanks for reading about me!