Road Trip

Things are moving around here....I think it's time for another road trip.

They are packing the RV to go visit the grandkids!!! I think I'm looking forward to it. I know the little boy very well but I have not met the two year old girl. I do hope I behave. I promise to try.

"See" you all when we come back. It's gonna be hot. I do hope I am pampered like I should be so that my travels will be comfortable. We'll "see".

To Dude with Love by his Beloved Companion

This was just sent to my Mom by Dude's Mom. A tissue or two may be needed:


I walked with my partner to the gates to the other side and held him as he let go of his body and entered the divine realm. It seemed it was harder for me to let go of him than for him to let go of me. With him, I had opened the doors to my heart, that had previously been locked by my own choice. We shared feelings ones I’d never been willing or able to share – ranging from seemingly effortless accommodation, reckless acceptance, unwavering loyalty, and kindly patience. We neither of us had to give up our own vision, sense of importance, or source of individual joy to prove ourselves or our love to each other.

we both came to each other --closed, guarded, scared. He was
catatonic in the beginning, trembling in apoplexy and completely void of responses or acknowledgment. I was drawn inexplicably to him and I followed my heart.

We embarked and evolved on a 10 year journey through life together,
from the broken, imprisoned souls that we were, to strangely weird, to a little crude and rude, to happy, active, and responsive, to proud, beautiful and handsome to the awesome creatures of God through love that we were meant to be. Being with him was action-packed, adventure filled, and comfortable. Our dance was joyfully together, childishly playful, and tenderly affectionate.

As he came into his own, His physical and emotional presence took
control when he entered a room or walked down the street. He was
show-stopper stuff. A gentle curiousity radiated, a magnanimous
kindness telegraphed.

The love and devotion we felt for and lived through each other was our gift back to God and to ourselves as well.

Please be waiting for me on the other side, I whispered.

Speaking of Deep Tissue Massage....

We saw Dude's Mom yesterday afternoon on our walk. We sat on the hill together with another friend and her pup. Dude's Mom petted me while I sat up against her. She started massaging my back, moving her fingers along my spine and kept going up and down my back. Let's just say I was in dog heaven. Something Dude must be experiencing now. My Mom looked over at me and drool was dripping from my mouth. Boy did they laugh at me. I did not care at all. I hope she's there tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the.............

Ode to Dude, By Henry

Ode to Dude

Dude, I never met you,
but my friend Mia loved you,
and that's all I need
to know that you are a beautiful soul.
A special soul.
A sweet soul.
A greatly missed soul.

Rest in peace, little Dude.



Another lovely poem from my man, Henry.

Diary of the Day

Thank you Dogster for this lovely honor.

I do, however, wish my last entry could have been avoided.

We used to show up at our park every afternoon around 4:00 to hang out on the hill with each other in the warm weather. I don't think it will be quite the same for awhile......sigh.

Rest in Peace Sweet Dude

It is with the saddest of hearts that I must share Dude has gone to the Bridge.

Yesterday, my Mom saw his Mom riding her bike without him as she was getting home from work.

Mom rushed in to get me and take me to the park where we usually see each other. There she was without him talking to someone. Mom saw her crying. Where's Dude she said? And then we heard the saddest words ever. He was hurting over the weekend so badly that he had to be carried with the help of a sling. She got him to the vet and the vet came to him in the car and helped him stop suffering.

My Mom sobbed last night just thinking she would never see us play together again. Please say a little prayer that his Mom feels better.

The Definition of Pure Joy

Hasn't been a lot going on here lately. It's raining quite a bit which is good but not the best weather to take our usual strolls.

But yesterday afternoon my Dad suggested we go for a walk at Laguna. Whoopee here we go again!!!

It was pretty crowded because it appeared we weren't the only ones with a little cabin fever.

Then it happened.....we decided to take a stroll along the shore. Whoop dee doo here we go again!!! Oh the smelly anticipation!

Dad stayed back behind us a little while my Mom let out my lead to the maximum and I raised my nose up in the air and I ran full force into the water and ran back out of the water in a circle as my Mom raised my lead over her head so I could run in a circle back into the water and back around her again and again and again.

Another dog walker stopped us and asked what I was and asked about my eyes. Mom said (again) I have none but that doesn't mean I don't get to go to the beach, does it? He thought for a brief second and said of course I should be at the beach. My Dad strolled up and said I was the Definition of Pure Joy. I must say I like the sound of that.

A Day at the Beach with Dad

So yesterday morning before the Super Bowl festivities my Dad went to Laguna Beach to stroll with a friend of his. Mom was busy getting our home ready for some folks to come watch the game later.

Dad said he thought he'd take me with him. This makes Mom a little anxious because she is usually my handler when we go to Laguna because there are lots of folks there and you have to be very careful that I don't bump into/or be bumped into by unconcious humans and my Dad likes to let my lead out a little more than he should. She reminded Dad to watch out for me and his response was "I know how to walk a dog". She did not take the bait and let me go.

When I got home my Dad reported that I had a wonderful time. Dad forgot that I had just gotten a bath on Friday (???) So, when he mentioned I ran into the ocean and also ate a pile of sand Mom's initial reaction was not that positive. But he did repeat to her that I had a wonderful time. I suppose the bottom line is I went on a boy's trip. Maybe he should have said "What happens in Laguna, stays in Laguna".....

Dog of the Week???

Oh my....I'm honored and touched and excited and want to say thank you from the bottom of my pit pattering heart. Thank you Dogster for letting me close out this year as Dog of the Week! Good bye 2009....Hello 2010.

On a serious note, it has been a year that a lot of folks would like to forget. So please remember the goodness in each other. And give us pups an extra squeeze. We are here for you.....unconditionally.

Happy New Year!!!!!

A Better Outcome

I went with my Mom to lunch yesterday and then back to her office.

As we were walking down the hall out of the elevator this lovely woman said to my Mom...."How long did she have glaucoma?". The question made Mom pause because this woman had never seen us before so how would she know why I have no eyes???

We all walked down the hall together and the woman explained that long ago she had an eleven year old dog that had been diagnosed with glaucoma and she had a toddler and a new baby on the way and when her dog was diagnosed she made the decision that is was better to put her dog down then go through the surgery and a blind dog and babies and all that comes with it.

My Mom felt bad for her because she said she never would have done it if she was faced with the same circumstances now. And she was so sorry.

Mom remembers how it was when she and my Dad were deciding what to do with me.

I like my outcome better.