T'was a year ago tonight that we helped her toddle over Rainbow Bridge. Trust me -- she went ***FORWARD***. It was what she did.
I miss my little elderly lady. And honestly? Since Christmas I even miss the never-ending bathing. What do you do with an incontinent little old lady peke when she really gets too frail and she wets in her sleep z-z-z-z -- you bathe her. A lot.
But oh my she enjoyed it. Being warm? Wrapped up in a nice, big fluffy towel, being held and rubbed and fluffed and combed by a big lady who is really pretty nice? It was ... nice.
I look 4 years back to that couple of days before New Years when my bag boy at Publix came running down the parking lot yelling 'HEY --- you have dog-ZZZZZZZZZZ -- want another one??"
No we really didn't. Had three (Billy, Luna and Foxy) and I only had 3 corners in my kitchen for dog bowls. That means **enough**. But the dog was living with his brother **in his brother's car** (not a young man -- the brother was like 50 something?) because "Mom and Dad's condo won't allow pets". I gave him my number and told him I'd help him find a rescue but I really couldn't just bang ... take her!
In a day or so I got a call. Of course the cops were freaked that this guy was living in his car in the parking lot of a nice condo ...he went to the bathroom, leaving the dog alone in the car and they snagged her.
We were pretty sure this guy had enough of a drinking problem that he probably wasn't gonna get his life together enough to GET an apartment ... but we said we'd foster her temporarily. Took her to my vet -- her teeth were beyond awful -- my vet picked 13 completely rotten teeth out of her mouth
I can't have an animal in my home and NOT help whatever its problems are. She demonstrated "fly-licking" CONSTANTLY -- took her to the TCVM vet because it's a type of seizure.
WOW -- get her "on this planet" and she's a nice little dog. VERY fearful -- what a shame -- a little bitty peke who was AFRAID of being held? Who didn't like being ON the furniture? Oh my ...
But Foxy decided he was in love.
Most of you can't understand what an incredible thing that was -- my almost 19 year old Mostlie Sheltie was the most neurotic little old man on the planet. He was NOT a "dog's dog". No way. Foxy never played. Toys were ... ugh. He had become a therapy dog -- and loved it. But he wasn't what you'd ever have called a 'carefree' dog. It wasn't in his nature. And he was aging -- FAST.
But Kee Shu would follow him. ALL THE TIME. As far as she was concerned he was the "bees knees" -- and ... he LIKED it. David called them "Darby and Joan". Sort of a British institution -- Darby was an old man and Joan was the lady who kept company with him ... every where Darby went ... Joan followed. And ... he'd wait for her.
So ... this End-of-November/December romance flourished. One morning I even found them .... *gasp shock* SNUGGLED ASLEEP!!!!
Sadly we lost Foxy the first of March - but oh my those two put a TON of cuddle in 2 1/2 months.
She tried hard to worship Billy ... he was ok with it but ... yawn ... nothing special.
Then we got the pug. I really thot the pug would make the old lady crazy. But nope -- they *bonded*. The pug would wear Luna out dragging her by the ear ALL OVER ... but with Grammy Dog -- Tink would watch out for her. And yeah -- you'd find those two curled up -- the pug and the old lady peke. It was truly sweet.
Kee very nearly just faded away. She was SO determined -- you just keep moving FORWARD. Even if ... well, even IF you forget where you're going ... if you just keep moving forward you'll figure it out by the time you get there ... and if you don't ... well at least you'll BE somewhere!!
She lost weight -- ate like a little piggie but became very frail as she aged. But the longer we did the TCVM and controlled the seizures, the more sweet she became.
Well, until the last year ... one night she decided about 4:30 a.m. -- it was TIME TO GET UP. She barked ... and BARKED ... and B*A*R*K*E*D!!!!!!!
It was just a bit of dementia we eventually decided. We accommodated her -- I hope when *I* get to be that age someone accommodates ME.
She did pet therapy right up til the July of her 4th year with us ... and it got so she pretty much would sleep thru it. A child would pet her and that last day she just kinda snored. Enjoying it? Oh yeah -- but .... asleep. So we decided that was her retirment party.
There was honestly no reason to put her to sleep. She wasn't in ANY pain. We managed the uti's that resulted from the incontinence. A bit inconvenient but ... nothing horrible. It wasn't like she was racing around the house -- she slept a lot. She was at peace. Total contentment. She ENJOYED her food (oh my goodness did she **enjoy** her food!!). For me, "inconvenient" is never a reason to euthanize. We adapted. The pug LOVED her Grammy Dog. The pug got her energy out chasing Luna, ... and got her cuddles from Kee.
I've posted a ton of stories. I *do* miss her. I learned MUCH from her ... I learned that even when you're unsure ... it's usually best to just keep moving forward. Don't sit and feel sorry for yourself. Just keep doing what you do ... and at least you'll have that done ... and you'll be a little further than you were before. And if you forget why you are?? That's ok -- you'll have LOTS of time to figure it out ... while ... you're moving ... forward.
Kee -- I hope Rainbow Bridge is the most wonderfullest place EVER. I hope you and Foxy enjoy that meadow together. Enjoy all the time there that you didn't have here. I miss both of you ... I DO miss my Foxy boy fiercely still ... but honestly? I derive a great deal of comfort picturing "Darby and Joan" wandering all over Rainbow Bridge ... **together**.
Having somebuddy to be 'together' wtih?? Forever? To feel somebuddy's soft breath behind your ear and knowing they are right with you ... isn't that just plain Heaven? I am SO glad they are together.
I've had people ask me how old do you suppose you are in Heaven? And I always say "Whatever age you WANT to be". And Foxy and Kee? I'd betcha they're exactly as old as they were when they met. Because I think for the two of them to just wander slowly ... but ***together*** was probably their idea of perfect.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO