Squirt's Mom
12-21-2010, 12:40 PM
Hey Big Red,
It's been a year yesterday that you left us. You are never far from mind.
I remember the first time I met you; you and your boy came to my house to visit and you were so excited to be some place new! Although the four little yappers that were also there didn't really melt your butter, you were gentle with them. When we were outside, you never let your boy out of your sight, always knowing where he was and that he was alright. You could sense he was special and you gave him all you had to give.
Every time it thunders, or fire crackers start up, or a gun fires, or a car backfires I can see you in my mind's eye thundering up the stairs, running full tilt for the bed! Under you would go, spinning around once there and poking only your black nose out. And there it would remain, twitching and wiggling to sniff out danger til it was safe to come back out. We always knew you had our back, Rube! :p
I loved to watch you and your dad play! :D You would bark and growl like a mad dog, whirling around, jumping up to snatch an arm from the air - always "missing" - teeth bared, looking fierce as all get out. You would put your mouth on him but never bite down, gentle even as you pretended to be rough. Your dad was always the one to call Uncle and be ready to quit - not you! You could have played like that for hours, loving every second of it!
You learned to share your house with Squirt, though not willingly at first. But once you accepted she was part of the family, you became just as protective of her...unless she was interfering with your play or petting! :rolleyes: Then came Goldie, then Crys. Bless your sweet heart! Crys, the Demon Dog, wore you out, pushing you past your amazing limits at times, didn't she? But she was the one who missed you the most out of all the babies when you were gone. Now you are together again, both whole and strong, able to play and chase all the deer and geese you can scare up!
You had the most beautiful red coat I have ever seen, Ruby. It gleamed like burnished copper, flashing in the sunshine like fire. And so very soft! Most of all, I remember your ears. So tiny for such a big girl and velvety soft, rimmed in black, perched on top of your head just perfectly. I can still feel them under my palms when I would rub your head. When you sent that little squirrel with the black rimmed ears to our bedroom window, I knew you were alright. Thank you for that gift.
I also remember your eyes those last days. They were burning with a secret knowledge that you so badly wanted us to understand. Your love poured from them, strengthening us for the task ahead. You enjoyed every touch immensely no matter how slight, wriggling with joy. Every bite you were handed was relished with obvious delight. Every word that fell on your precious ears was a treasure you held on to til the last echo.
And we devoured you with our senses. We buried our faces in your fur, inhaling your scents. We submitted eagerly as you washed our tears with your warm, wet tongue, comforting us even in your final hours. We couldn't keep our hands off of you, trying to imprint the texture of you on our hands to carry with us always. We laid our heads on your chest to hear the beat of your giant heart, as if we could make ours match yours.
As we laid your body to rest outside the kitchen window, your boy sent a prayer upward, one I know you heard and carry with you there across The Bridge. You made a mark on your boy's soul that will never fade and he carries you in his heart forever. You made a mark on all of us, Ruby, and we are all better for having you in our lives.
Take care of your sister and walk with Gia til we meet again. I miss you, Ruby Dooby Doo and love you so very much still.
Smooches, hugs, and ear scratches,
Mama
It's been a year yesterday that you left us. You are never far from mind.
I remember the first time I met you; you and your boy came to my house to visit and you were so excited to be some place new! Although the four little yappers that were also there didn't really melt your butter, you were gentle with them. When we were outside, you never let your boy out of your sight, always knowing where he was and that he was alright. You could sense he was special and you gave him all you had to give.
Every time it thunders, or fire crackers start up, or a gun fires, or a car backfires I can see you in my mind's eye thundering up the stairs, running full tilt for the bed! Under you would go, spinning around once there and poking only your black nose out. And there it would remain, twitching and wiggling to sniff out danger til it was safe to come back out. We always knew you had our back, Rube! :p
I loved to watch you and your dad play! :D You would bark and growl like a mad dog, whirling around, jumping up to snatch an arm from the air - always "missing" - teeth bared, looking fierce as all get out. You would put your mouth on him but never bite down, gentle even as you pretended to be rough. Your dad was always the one to call Uncle and be ready to quit - not you! You could have played like that for hours, loving every second of it!
You learned to share your house with Squirt, though not willingly at first. But once you accepted she was part of the family, you became just as protective of her...unless she was interfering with your play or petting! :rolleyes: Then came Goldie, then Crys. Bless your sweet heart! Crys, the Demon Dog, wore you out, pushing you past your amazing limits at times, didn't she? But she was the one who missed you the most out of all the babies when you were gone. Now you are together again, both whole and strong, able to play and chase all the deer and geese you can scare up!
You had the most beautiful red coat I have ever seen, Ruby. It gleamed like burnished copper, flashing in the sunshine like fire. And so very soft! Most of all, I remember your ears. So tiny for such a big girl and velvety soft, rimmed in black, perched on top of your head just perfectly. I can still feel them under my palms when I would rub your head. When you sent that little squirrel with the black rimmed ears to our bedroom window, I knew you were alright. Thank you for that gift.
I also remember your eyes those last days. They were burning with a secret knowledge that you so badly wanted us to understand. Your love poured from them, strengthening us for the task ahead. You enjoyed every touch immensely no matter how slight, wriggling with joy. Every bite you were handed was relished with obvious delight. Every word that fell on your precious ears was a treasure you held on to til the last echo.
And we devoured you with our senses. We buried our faces in your fur, inhaling your scents. We submitted eagerly as you washed our tears with your warm, wet tongue, comforting us even in your final hours. We couldn't keep our hands off of you, trying to imprint the texture of you on our hands to carry with us always. We laid our heads on your chest to hear the beat of your giant heart, as if we could make ours match yours.
As we laid your body to rest outside the kitchen window, your boy sent a prayer upward, one I know you heard and carry with you there across The Bridge. You made a mark on your boy's soul that will never fade and he carries you in his heart forever. You made a mark on all of us, Ruby, and we are all better for having you in our lives.
Take care of your sister and walk with Gia til we meet again. I miss you, Ruby Dooby Doo and love you so very much still.
Smooches, hugs, and ear scratches,
Mama