Farewell

The end of 2007 proved to be a blur for yours truly. I never had a chance to get back to this blog & address any relevant (or irrelevant) issues. Now we are here in 08. And things haven't gotten any easier.
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I begin the new years' blog on a sad note as I mark the passing of a beloved friend.
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Lucy.
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In our ten years of marriage, my wife & I have yet to venture into the world of parenthood. Nothing against it mind you...it just hasn't felt right. Yet. We have, instead, chose to dote on two wonderful dogs as if they were human. This is an affectation that, in my youth, I found a bit silly. However, the years, while not making me wiser, have made me an occasional softy. I say this not as an excuse but as a declaration. Put simply: I. was. wrong.
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Our first furry child is Belle. We adopted her not long after we were married. She has been spoiled beyond belief, treated as an equal in household decisions and has been known to delicately drive me from my own bed because she "didn't have enough room". For years, she was enough for us as my wife & I became more familiar with being married and the nuances that accompanied that union.
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Jump ahead five years. Our family of three moved from a middle floor apartment to a two story home. Nice neighborhood, spacious floor plan and, of course, a fenced backyard. It seemed like a lot of room for three but we liked it that way.
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Enter Lucy.
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Lucy was a stray who happened to wander up to my friend David's home one afternoon . She was a very friendly dog that looked as though she had been on her own for some time. After much searching for her owner and pleas to other dog-friendly homes (mine included), David & his wife decided to give her a home. She was happy there and received a lot of attention & love. The vet estimated her age, at the time, to be around 8 or 9 years old. All was well. However, there was a slight snag on the horizon. Lucy's new parents had booked a trip to Hawaii in the Fall and would need reliable dog sitting services. How could I refuse?
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From the minute Lucy hit our doorstep, she & Belle became fast friends. Running, playing...you know...dog stuff. They sat close to one another most of the time and followed each other everywhere. It seemed so odd that two complete strangers could get on so well. When her visit was coming to an end, my wife & I devised a plan. We offered to pick up David & the missus from the airport...then spring our trap. They weren't in the car for a minute when I began the preliminary small talk. "How was the Flight?" " How was the weather in Hawaii?" "How much do you want for your dog?"
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Small talk has never been my strong suit.
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Suffice to say, after a little haggling, we were able to adopt Lucy and give Belle an apparently much needed companion. And Lucy took to her new surroundings as if she knew it was where she was meant to be. Her favorite thing to do was to wander into the furthest reaches of the backyard, out of view, leaving the uninitiated to wonder if she'd somehow escaped the fence. That's caused more than it's fair share of cursing when Lucy would slyly saunter over the hill witha "What's all the fuss?" air about her.
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Additionally, Definite lines were drawn. While Belle had always seemed to cozy more closely with my wife, Lucy instantly became Daddy's girl. If I were to get up & go to the other room, she would soon follow. Perhaps she knew of my penchant for mischief if left unattended. Maybe it was because I was one of the first people she met in her new life. It could be that she knew I was a soft touch. Whatever the reason, she sat by me in the office, on the couch and in the car. When I got up...she got up. When I went to bed...so did she. We were inseparable. The four of us...one big happy family.
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It was this way for years. Lots of Joy. Lots of Fun. Lots of Love.
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In the past year or two, as she got older, she slowed some, developed an occasional cough and began to show signs of aging. As we would with a child, we nursed her back to health each time with varying degrees of success. However, in the past year, the rebounds became farther apart. It is a hard thing to stomach when the staff at the vet's office knows you on sight. In July, she had a minor seizure. From that point on, she seemed to slow even more. Sleeping more. Playing less. Following less frequently. I began to have to carry her upstairs. In November, she had become considerably sick to the point where we almost cancelled our holiday trip to see relatives. But, she rebounded enough to where she could travel and experience a White Christmas. It was nice to see her walking through the snow with Belle nearby. .

After the new year, she began to slow even more. She had stopped eating and began to have difficulty standing or walking on slick surfaces. We were cautiously optimistic. She had bounced back so many times before. But we were also realistic. On Friday, she gave us hope. She seemed more alert. A little more energetic. She walked to the farthest reaches of the backyard again....something she hadn't done in weeks. She sat next to me attentive. She curled up next to me in the office. It was like "old times".Again...we were hopeful. It turned out...she was saying goodbye.
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On Saturday, she regressed. So much so, that we decided to take her to the Emergency clinic hoping to get her some relief. Something told us that we should bring Belle if only for moral support. It proved to be support that WE would need. It was discovered that Lucy had an enlarged heart and was experiencing congestive heart failure. They feared that she might go into cardiac arrest at any time. We decided that she shouldn't suffer any more. It is one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make.
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Lucy Silva died on Saturday January 12, 2008 surrounded by her family. She went quietly surrounded by love which is all anyone could ask. She was a kind, loving & brave soul who will be missed terribly. I thank God for sending her our way and commend her soul to His loving care. I couldn't have loved her more if she were my own flesh & blood.
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For you, Lucy. Simply, Thanks.