Pets...

Today a dear friend called me up and said she had to take her cat to the vet. Her cat is old, and has lived a decade longer than anyone expected - as she was born with no hips - so I knew what it meant. So did my friend.

I offered to go with her, knowing I couldn't do that by myself... She was much stronger than I ever would be (shoot... I wasn't a very strong shoulder for her today) The vet finally just said that it was time, and those words were a very hard sound of relief - it was now not just her decision... it was the suggestion - and that took a lot off her heart.

OF course when put in this situation - as anyone would - i started remembering...

my childhood cat Kiki, the Siamese beautiful cat that had spunk (she lived for 18 years, and it wasn't until after I squished her in the couch bed that she even acted old... and lived 2 years after I did that)

Then of course, Scrappy - my first dog that Grandpa got me for my 9th birthday. He was the CUTEST pikenese puppy that near the end of his life had an exploded eyeball. He LOVED bananas and hated the neighborhood boys.

I'm going to throw in Julio - grandpa's basset hound.. he is still alive in my brain - though he'd be about 20 by now... he saved my grandma's life once, and made us laugh often. And Daisy, their other basset - that hated my dad... but loved my grandma, and the day my dad pretended to hit my grandma and she took off after him, then saw who he was and stopped and peed in fright... favorite memory!

Paje... The most wonderful German Shepherd on the planet. She babysat Chris & Taylor, literally would take them by the hand gently and walk them around the yard. She died so suddenly & broke all of our hearts.

George & Elliot - our bunny rabbits that live with another lady now that has a whole bunny room dedicated to them. Giving them away broke my heart, but I knew it was best for them & me (as I was very allergic to their hair) but I sure loved having their litter of 2 little bunnies!

Little Turd... yes, that was his name... I adopted him the day after Christmas the first year Javier and I moved to College Station. He died New Years Eve the same year... Distemper. I had to make the decision then, after 5 days was the hardest thing I've ever done.

Neiko... the dog I got Javier our first Christmas together. His folk's kept her when we moved, and she got hit by a car last Thanksgiving. Which we found out about at Christmas...

Pets... Dori is the dog that Javier and I went together to get as our 2nd date. She's my Mom's dog now, but I sure do Love her!

AND my favorite 2 dogs in the world... Jojo & Dixie... When Dixie was little, there were times I didn't think she'd make it, and it was heart wrenching. And now, she lights up my every day. I don't know how people live without pets. Yes, the hair is annoying, the removal of waste is at times tedious, and when they do tear up something in the home it is frustrating, but the love is much more important & fantastic than any of the things that make us cranky.

I can't imagine (and greatly fear) the day that I come home and Jojo doesn't bark and talk to tell me all about her day... and Dixie doesn't wag her entire body - not just her tail and smiling and shaking just in hopes that I'll open the door and let her lick my face. The morning wake up smacks... though untimely on Saturday mornings, make me smile (and wonder how this dog can get her paw to feel so much like a hand holding my arm)

My pets complete my life. My pets make me smile the most & My pets love me even when I tell them to go away and get down. My pets... Just another part of my life I am extra lucky in & extra thankful for.