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It really is all about me.

and my girl, she sleeps.......

After a beautiful life together, my girl grew old and slow. I adjusted my life to fit into her abilities and we seemed to do all right for a couple of years. Nine months ago Raven refused to eat unless we made it "gourmet" with scrambled eggs, hot dogs, cheese or gravy. So of course, every day, twice a day she had her meals her way. The last four days have been pretty sobering. My girl stopped eating and walking. She wouldn't even lift her head or wag her tail when we walked into the room. Last night as she tried to sleep she was moaning and was breathing strange. I knew she was trying to tell me something. I do not like to play God but my girl had been so good to me for so long I could not let her go out like this.

Our life together:
She let me hug her and sob when my ex-husband and I were divorcing. She promised to stay by me and we would get through this together. She warned me of happenings outside with her deep and scary bark. She scared off any one wandering near the yard. She guarded my babies when I brought them home from the hospital. She rode with me on a six hour round trip car ride when no one else would and lay next to me the whole time. She moved from room to room with me and slept next to me each night.

This evening, after much anguish, the vet came to the house and discovered that my girl had a bleeding tumor in her abdomen and another tumor in her throat. After 16.5 years walking this earth she was not strong enough to survive the treatments. I could not stand to know she was hurting or struggling for breath they way that she had been. My girl drifted off to sleep for the last time while I held her in my arms at 6:00 P.M.. We burried her next to the front door where only a few years ago she would dig these enormous holes and lay in them to where you couldn't even see her 85lb. body unless you were standing right above her. I used to get mad when she dug up my flowers and threaten to put her in that hole but it didn't seem to stop her. Now, her body rests eternally in her beloved spot. I believe we did her proud and dug it deeper than even she had ever done. Her body lies with her favorite toy, the knotted rope, a ball and a card from our family with pictures of her children inside. Of course she went with her collar on so that forever she will be known as our girl, Raven.

She is already running and playing fetch with balls, frisbees, sticks and of course the knotted ropes on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

I love you Raven and will see you again someday!

Mom

My mom is so sad.

I have been slowing down recently. I no longer run the fence line to chase the cars as they go by. I can't retrieve the frisbee, ball or rope toy as I once did. Pizzas left on the counter are no longer in danger of me sneaking a snack. I don't even have the strength to snap and warn at that goofy Wachabe when he tries to stealth up and eat my food or treats.

I lie on the floor and sleep the day away. My mom pets and strokes me and whispers in my ear about what a great girl I am. How much she loves me and that it is ok for me to go to the Rainbow Bridge if I want. She tells me she will see me there someday and that my brothers Cow and Jo Jo are there with my sister Poe. She says I am the dog by which all other dogs should be judged.

My mom boasts too much about me.

My mom makes me seem prideful and stuck up when in actuallity I am really laid back and reserved. Except with my new brother. He is obnoxious and needs to be put in his place! I need to vent about that boy. He not only drinks my water and the cat's water but leaves this slobbery stuff all in the bowls. Every one of them. I watch my mom clean water bowls like 3-4 times a day and still I struggle to get a clean drink of water. Ewwww! Also, my mom bought him this football. Well, just because I am a girl doesn't mean I wouldn't like it so I stole it! He had the nerve to steal it back and take it outside and leave it there. Man I was mad about that one. So my mom went back to the pet store and bought another one. Can you believe she gave it to him! Just cause I slobbered all over the first one that was supposed to be his. Shouldn't I get the new one? She bought us rawhides too but he doesn't know what to do with it so I went to get it. She told me no!

I think mom is buying into my "sad" routine. She took me to school for drop off and pick up today and I got to ride along for a picnic in the park tonight without the canine brother! he he