So Long, Barney
This arrived today from my neighbors Stuart and Diane:
We lost our best friend this week. I thought I'd tell
you a little about him.
His name was Barney. We adopted him from a kill
shelter about 6 1/2 years ago. He was a little over 8.
( At the time we already had two Rotty's - Maggie and
Daisy. ) He immediately walked in the door to our home
in Dallas and "tagged" the first plant he could find.
( Maggie - our oldest set him straight.) From that day
forward, he followed me everywhere I went.
We moved to the island a year ago, and he became "King
of the Deck " on our big pink house. He would meet me,
on the days that I didn't take him and Daisy to work,
at the top of our stairs with unconditional love, that
only a big 'ole floppy eared puppy can do. He would
beat me up the stairs every night , to the middle of
the bed, and give me a little growl, when I would try
to move him.
He loved Diane like crazy , who would sing to him and
Daisy everyday she arrived home, a little ditty, that
would send him jumping and "goin' a little bit crazy",
as she would say.
A few months ago, he started losing weight, a few
days ago they determined that he had liver cancer,and
yesterday I had to do the hardest thing I've ever had
to do, for the second time in my life. ( Maggie got
too old for her body a few years back. )
I don't think I'll ever understand how you can grow to
love something so much and then things can change so
fast.
There's a piece of my heart that shall never heal,
but I thank my lucky stars to have been given the time
and memories,and I hope everyone remembers the next
time they look to get a pet, that at one of the
shelters near you, may be a puppy or kitty that could
be your best friend... if you just give them a chance.
Thanks for allowing me to share this with you.
Your friend and neighbor,
Stuart Williams
Barney did this little circular dance whenever Wags and I walked by his house... it always made me laugh. I miss him too and am very sorry for the pain I know you guys are feeling. It just doesn't seem fair that our best buddies' life spans amount to just a fraction of our own...
posted by Lucinda at 8:31 PM
3 Comments:
Those people who chain their dog in the yard or let them run loose and get hit by a car have no idea how close you can get to a doggy. Those who have never experienced that kind of relationship can't begin to comprehend what unconditional love is. No matter what we do...no matter how loud we yell at them...no matter how bad a day we had...no matter what other people think about us...we know we are loved. And it appears there is one love in our life that is unsurpassed....mine was Sadie Lovelady and today, fifteen years later, I still get tears in my eyes thinking of her. I imagine one of my last thoughts when I outlive my body will be of Sadie waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. And Barney, Big John, Lava, Dune Dog, and Chuy will be waiting there also.
Aunt Dorothy
Barney was a very lucky dog and my heart goes out to you.
Grow Old With Dogs
(I did not write it, but i love it and pass it along)
When I am old...
I will wear soft gray sweatshirts. ..
and a bandana over my silver hair.....
and I will spend my social security checks on wine
and my dogs.
I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair and listen
to my dogs' breathing.
I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night
and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will
allow...
When people come to call,
I will smile and nod as I show them my dogs...
and talk of them and about them...
....the ones so beloved of the past
and the ones so beloved of today....
I will still work hard cleaning after them, mopping
and feeding them and whispering their names in a
soft loving way.
I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat, like a
jewel and I will be an embarrassment o all...
especially my family...
who have not yet found the peace
in being free to have dogs as your best friends....
These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your
footfall...
and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep,
to greet you as if you are a God.
With warm eyes full of adoring love and hope that you
will always stay,
I'll hug their big strong necks...
I'll kiss their dear sweet heads...
and whisper in their very special company....
I look in the Mirror...
and see I am getting old....
this is the kind of person I am...
and have always been.
Loving dogs is easy,
they are part of me.
Please accept me for who I am.
My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives...
they love my presence in their lives......
When I am old this will be important to me...
you will understand when you are old....
if you have dogs to love too.
~Author Unknown
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