The bi-ped Sis

The bi-ped Sis bought a car last week. It's a 2004 Chevy Impala SS Limited Edition, there's only 4088 that were made. Nice ride, but I'm not allowed in it cause it has leather seats.

Mom drives it all the time, want to know why? Cause the bi-ped sis only has her driving permit. Kinda silly to go out and buy a car like that when you don't drive.

Hey, she's excited and Mom's doing the teaching thing, I notice Mom before they go out for a *lesson*, goes to the medicine cabinet and takes some pills.....I wonder what that's about.

Gotta love the bi-ped sis, she keeps the whole pack and humans laughing because she's so silly. Mom can't wait for her to drive by herself, but that's a lot of car for a first time driver. *eye roll*

I miss my big sis.

My big sis had to go to the Bridge on Feb. 11th 2009, the family didn't know it but she had cancer. A very large tumor in her abdomen had cause her spleen to rupture and for her to bleed internally. The vet said he could do major surgery to stop the bleeding but Amber would only make it to 6 months if even that, and her quality of life would not be good.

Mom is still crying, she see's one of Ambers toys or looks over at her bed and I can see the tears well up in her eyes. You see Amber came to Mom needing a home, she showed up at the door skinny, abused and in heat and scared to death. At that time in Mom's life they needed each other. The very first thing Mom did was to take Amber to the vet, he checked her over and said she weighed only 45lbs and should be 95lbs. Mom had to fatten her up before she could be spayed. It did take her about 2 years not to be afraid and not to fear people, this is why Mom thought she was beat. If you raised your voice she would cower.

She lived with us for about 9 years, the vet guessed her age at about 9 months when he first seen her. She had facial expressions, she would look at you with big brown eyes and make your heart melt. The morning she went down Mom could tell by her eyes that something was terribly wrong. Amber was always a happy pup.

She would protect the house with her life, more so then the rest of the pack, Mom always felt safe when Dad or the kids weren't home and Amber was with her. I would just let them in and if they gave me a cookie they would have a lifetime friend. Not Amber, she would have chewed them up.

Ambers only toy that she would play with was a small tractor tire, it was her precious, she would toss it to me and I would take off running with it, Amber right behind me on my heels. We would play with that thing forever. I was a tiny puppy when I came to live with the pack, Amber stood like a giant next to me, but she was a gentle caring giant....I loved her so.

Amber loved to swim, we all went to the lake and Amber jumped in the water, the first time in her life and about drowned, Mom jumped in after her and brought her back to shore. She never did fear the water. Mom would buy her a pool every summer, because she would drag the one she had around the yard....I can't count how many pools Mom bought.

Amber, my dear sweet sister, I miss you and I still can smell you in the yard and the house. I still go looking for you, but I can't see you. I do feel you inside my heart and I know you're there. I tried to lay in your bed but got up because I was confused. Who's going to play with me with the tractor tire? Who's going to go swimming with me? Who am I going sleep with butt to butt on the couch?

The family misses you, and I know when it's time we will all be together, we were blessed to have you as part of the family. Daddy's girly girl, Mom's Amber Renee.

I miss you and love you, have fun at the Bridge and save a piece of your heavenly cloud to share with me.

Na~Na

I never knew.

I never really knew that people actually read my diary, until this week when I posted a diary entry about Daddy. Thank you so much for you kindness and good wishes for my Daddy.

Mom is at a lost for words, but I'm not. You all are very special pups and humans. Don't worry, like Mom said things do get better, you just got to believe. Everyday gets a little better, Daddy can now read, he hadn't been able to do that in months. The eye specialist told him to get reading glasses off the rack, you know from the local drug store. Well, they have worked, and what we thought would never happened did. Daddy got to do his favorite hobby.....to have his nose in a book.

Thank you so much for the POP for Daddy, they really must work.

Hugs to all!

Nadiya

Daddy's getting better, slowly.

Well, it's been 8 months since Dad had the stroke. He's doing better, he still can't see and they say he never would, he's more relaxed now and has time to sit and play with all of us. We are always by his side, Rusty is always in his lap.

The eyelid surgery went well, you see they put a silicone band on his eyebrow muscle to help him to be able to open one eye. He's still on alot of medicines and he has to go to the doctor a lot. This week he went to the heart doctor, it was time to change his defibrillator out, the battery had gone dead. He had that done this past Monday, he's doing great with that.

He did get his Social Security Disability the first time around, usually they make you jump through hoops and wait years before you are awarded it. They must have thought that Dad was in pretty bad shape, it was tough the past eight months, Mom made our dog food from canned Y2K stuff that a friend had given her. All she had to do was to add the meat and the butcher kept us with scraps and when chicken went on sale Mom got a lot of it, even if it was on their food stamps, Mom said she would go hungry first before we would.

So now it's the first of the year, Mom thinks it will take a little while before everything goes back to normal with the finances, things with Dad will never be normal, but at least we have him home all the time.

Mom is still working at the county park, they haven't allotted the money yet for this year so she hasn't gotten a check yet but it will come.
She said you just have to be patient. Rusty is doing better, still a pain but doing OK, Bud has the cough still, Bert is still Bert and Amber, well lets just say that she's been really bad.

She has started to take stuff off the counters and get into the trash, something she has never done. Maybe she senses thinks arent' back to normal yet and is just acting out.

The Bi-Ped sis and Bro are doing great, the sis got a job doing research and the bro is working at UPS, and working to start up a computer repair business. The weather has been pretty up and down, but what do you expect from the mid-west?

Welp, it's 10pm and Mom's ready for bed so I gotta sign off.

Woof at you later.

Twas the Night Before Christmas.

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings where hung by the chimney with care
In the hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there

But at the North Pole sudden changes arose
All down to Rudolph and his ruby red nose
Clipboard in hand, a breed expert arrived
He motioned to Santa saying," please step aside".

A smooth haired coat and a muscular build
A broad deep chest our Rudolph did yield
The breed expert's pen, created pages of ticks
Then he suddenly called out "good lord, we've been tricked!"

"This creatures no donkey and clearly no horse!
I know these things! I've attended the course!"
Look at my clipboard the boxes are full!
It's very obvious to me: Rudolph is a pit bull!

Out with the measuring sticks, he explained to Santa the law
And he measured poor Rudolph from shoulder to floor.
As the spectacle continued Santa said with a sigh
He's a reindeer you fool! Why must he die?

"The law is the law" the expert said standing tall,
Then picked up his mobile and made a quick call
The sound of sirens filled the peaceful night air
and Rudolph removed ...to who knew where?

Days turned too weeks and confused and alone
Rudolph pined, for the place he called home
As the first snow started falling Rudolph gave up the fight
And he took his last breath on a cold winters night

You may think this is funny, if a little untrue.
But how would you like it, if it happened to you?
If your dog was taken because of its look...
Because it ticked enough boxes in some silly book?

Regardless of parentage it doesn't matter what breed
If it ticks enough boxes then it's a done deed
So humor me here and pretend this is true
Think how you would feel if it happened to you.

Cuddle your hounds while you have them close by
For some spend this Christmas, waiting to die.
Now back to the story, it doesn't end there
One more short verse I need to share

Santa fetched Rudolph's body and cried for his friend
And swore to himself, this would not be the end
And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
"The law is wrong, please help us to fight!

The Rescuer

Unlike most days at RainBow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All the recent arrivals were confused and concerned. They had no idea what to think for they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had spent some time waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge to watch. They knew this was something special.
It wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail dragging along the ground. The other animals on the pathway...the ones who had been at RainBow Bridge for a while...knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far too many times.

Although it was obvious the animal's heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge, this dog had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their special people could pass over the RainBow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.

With no place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it to him.

"That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew tired of him. They way you see him now, with graying fur and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the kennels. He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody to escort him across the Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?"

As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be seen a single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever. This figure turned toward a group of the sad animals and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light. Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.

From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people, a group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.

The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. "What happened?"

"That was a rescuer," came the answer. "That person spent a lifetime trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor pets that couldn't place on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see, all animals are special to them...just as they are special to all animals."

"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.

"So does God," was the reply.