Have I finally found my friends? (Palmer has crossed over the Bridge)

One day at a time like Addy said - words of wisdom. I love your stories of Palmer and the image of you carrying his collar in your pocket. That must help to some extent and its something I will try when my girl goes.

Love your stories of Palmer - he was quite the character!

Just a thought - before you get another dog you could perhaps offer to dogsit. I told my groomer and now I always seem to have any extra pup at my feet which I love because both of my girls are quite independent. The bonus is they are all small non shedding dogs because those are the ones that are frequently groomed. That way you get used to the idea of another pup even though you aren't ready yet and you also are helping out someone who can't or won't put their dog in a kennel. The pups I babysit become part of the family and its hard to see them go - also its a little extra grocery money!!

Love and many hugs,

We packed up all of Palmer's things today. :( I gathered the stuff last night and had a rough time. The actual packing went okay. I had washed all his toys and pulled together shampoo, food, treats, etc. I had just recently gone shopping for Palmer and we have a lot of money tied up into the toys, treats, food. Bob wanted to give it all away. He finally went along with packing it all up. If the food expires, we'll throw it out later. He said some of the stuff had January expiration dates. I told him I was not going to wait 3 years for the next puppy. Last week, when he said he had changed his mind about another dog, he said....not right away, maybe after the first of the year. Well, I agree with that, but I think soon after that I may be wanting to adopt a furry creature.

We had a "block party" this evening. A neighbor has a 2.5 year old Yorkie and I asked them to bring him out. His name is Harley-his dad rides a Harley. The last time I got close to Harley, he was just a few months old. He was bouncing around as puppies do and was so tiny. Well, today, he is still "bouncing" around. He's hyper! He peed on my shoes a number of times, he was so excited. :eek::eek: He play bit me.....and you just couldn't get him to pause for a second. That's not the kind of dog I want!

Another Palmer story-every night he would try to "fluff up" the sheets and/or the bedspread. When he was reprimanded about that, sometimes he would go under the bed and try to "fluff up" the rug. He knew better than that, but we could never truly break him of it. He also "fluffed up" our sofa and a recliner. The sofa weathered the action, but the recliner has a number of holes in the fabric now. It's kind of strange because he never did any digging outside.........except for............

I was pulling weeds out of the garden and came upon a worm. Worms are good-they aerate the earth. Well, I pointed this worm out to Palmer. When he finally zoned in on the wiggly little creature, he tried to get the worm to play. :D It really blew his mind when the worm went into the earth. :confused::confused: He could not figure out where it had gone. We played this game a couple of times, but it was only in the last year or two that I thought of it. He had so much fun! :D:D:D

Whenever he saw an insect......say a fly got inside......if he could catch it, he'd put it in his mouth and immediately spit it out. If something was crawling on the ground/floor, he would paw at it and paw at it.

Another "weird" thing-you'd have thought he had an eyesight problem.....if you gave him a little cookie, he would paw at it....but he never quite hit it. He just kind of stuck his paw out several times and pull at the treat. Eventually he'd hit the treat and, of course, it would pop up off the floor. I never got why he pawed so "off the mark." I know his eyesight was outstanding because of the things I would see and watch him discover.

Then there was this game we played. I'd give him a treat or a bone to chew. He wouldn't get right on it. I would say "I'm gonna get it!" and slowly move my hand toward the item. You'd get within a few inches and his cheek met your hand. If you pressed on beyond that, he started this guttural growling. He was kidding...and knew I was kidding....but it was a game he enjoyed.:D

When he was a puppy, we were in the backyard. A yellow jacket was buzzing around us and he kept chomping, trying to catch it. Well.......he did :eek::eek::eek: and he got stung. Boy was he unhappy. I tried to stop him in time, but he was too quick for me.

Then he had this - what our vet called a- "backward sneeze." It seemed kind of like an asthma attack. They didn't happen often, but they scared him when they did. Then he would panic and make it worse. He learned quickly to let me pick him up and massage his throat. In short order, the gasping/sneezing would stop.

And did I ever mention that at around age five he had to have both his knees operated on? His knee caps kept popping out and caused him great pain. The doc went in and made the ridge where it should sit a bit deeper. He was fine after he healed. But bringing this little guy home from that....he had to have one of those plastic cones around his head to keep him from bugging the stitches. He did not like that AT ALL. We would carry him wherever he needed to go-to another piece of furniture or outside to do his business. Since both knees were done, he had no way to squat and not have great pain. In very short order, he taught himself to stand on his front legs only and take care of business. It was amazing. He was such a smart dog.

One day we were in the living room....in the afternoon. When we got up for the day, there was a little cookie that remained on the bed. He had no interest in it earlier, so it just stayed there. That afternoon he looked at me and you could almost see the light bulb go off in his head. He made a beeline for the bedroom and returned with his treat. He had remembered all that time about it being in there. That often happened with chew bones we gave him. They were a several day project. We'd see him go off into the bedroom and, sure enough, he returned with the bone in his mouth and a very proud sashaying walk on the return trip! :)

I'm smiling more and crying less. It is getting more bearable. I sure wish he was here, though. :(:(

-Susan

Boy he sure was a smart cookie . . . . I agree about the puppy thing - they can be a lot of work and I did not have time so I got Desi at 3 from her breeder after she was done her show career. I highly recommend it if you are busy like me.

Or you could dog sit . . . . for a bit.

Love the stories - he was quite the character. Also glad to hear that it is getting easier for you even just a little bit.

Love and many hugs,:):)

OMG,,the worm story has me rolling! You have enough stories to write for BARK magazine! I am so glad you are remembering the good times.
Christy

Christy- It WAS funny to see. I wish I could have gotten a picture. It was the only times I ever saw him with dirt on his nose. It looked so funny. This wet black nose with this brown stuff smudged on it.:cool:

Bob and I were out yesterday and several times we saw dogs. Bob noticed all of them and even stopped to look at one. I think he never realized how much Palmer meant to him. He got so impatient with Palmer. I wonder if now he wishes he'd had more patience. Palmer was just being a dog....a very lovable dog....who at times wanted his attention!:)

When my husband and I got married I came with 2 Boxers. He had only had 1 dog in his lifetime and that was when he was a young child. He didn't have much patience with my boxers and we had some moments when I think he was pretty much jealous. When Dexter passed away, my husband actually shed some tears. Nine months later when Sophie passed,my husband cried, really cried. Now with the 2 dogs we have he is very loving, caring, and much more patient.
Dexter caught a toad once. He walked around the yard drooling so I ran down and thought he had a rock in his mouth. It was a toad,,,he didn't hurt it just carred it around. I took his little pet away from him and gave him a bone. That toad looked pretty shocked when I set it down.

When you are ready remember there are so many waiting to be adopted and loved.
Christy

Hi Susan!
We have just returned from out of the country and I came to your thread to see how our Palmer was doing. I was thinking of you & him while we were on our trip. I can't begin to tell you how shocked and devastated I am to learn of Palmer's passing. I am so sorry I was not here for you at that time but so glad that the rest of our incredible family rallied around you. .....Now that I have dried my tears and blown my nose........You were absolutely the best Mom in the world to Palmer and he took all that love across the bridge with him. As you remember him, he remembers you as he runs with the wind in his face through the fields of heaven with all his friends. May God bless and watch over him.
On a happier note, I LOVED the stories you have shared and look forward to many more. I have to tell you, in my retirement:rolleyes:, I have a part-time job in the children's department of our library. I really think you have so many great stories that perhaps actually doing a little book, when you are ready, may be a great healer for you and a great gift to the children who would read it - just a thought to park away at the back of your mind for now.
For now, our love and thoughts are with you and your family. Please keep posting and let us help you through this time in whatever way we can. Take all the time you can for yourself now and let the grieving process run its course. I think Bob is wise to say to wait a while before thinking about another puppy. Others have made great suggestions about ways to get a "puppy fix" when you need it right now. It will take some time for you (and Bob) to get "centered" again and in a place emotionally where you can open your hearts fully to another very lucky soul. And what a tribute to Palmer that will be!!:)
All our love, prayers and thoughts are with you and Bob. God speed Palmer - run fast and free.
Love & tail wags,
Carrol & Chloe

Hi Susan,

I so enjoy reading your stories about Palmer. I remember when you and he first joined us; I fell in love the first time I saw his pics! He's always been so special and it is nice to get to know him better through your memories.

You and Palmer have taught me so much and it is a real honor to share in these delightful memories with you.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Susan,
I'm so sorry for your loss. Healing hugs to you and yours,
Love,
Jane

Dearest Susan
I am glad we could help in some small way.
Palmer was blessed and rewarded for his wonderful soul by having received your love but also received God's love by having been granted a quick and peaceful passing. God does grant favors to his special ones.
Remember, the pain of the loss of our beloved furry friends is left with us but our angels are now without pain and suffering. Keep that thought and I hope it brings a little peace at this difficult time.
Take each day as it comes and one day smiles will replace the tears. Palmer will always be missed but he will be missed with tears of laughter at the memories of happy times.
Our love and thoughts are with you. Please keep in touch.
Carrol