16 Dec 2009

This is a very very sad day.  Something was wrong with my dad.  He didn't get out of bed today, and his voice sounds very funny.  I don't like it.  So I schnuggled on the bed with him for a while.  Mom came in and they started talking about Grandma Quiver.  Grandma Quiver has been sick.  Dad got out of bed and went to look at Grandma Quiver.  Then dad told mom she was right, and dad had water in his eyes.  I could feel the sadness in dad, just like he was when Uncle Parker went away.  So I pushed my nose under dad's hand to get his attention.  Dad looked down at me and the water from his eyes was dripping on my face.  I tried to lick it off.  Dad said I better go tell Grandma Quiver goodbye, because she wouldn't be with us much longer.

NOOOO!!!  I raced outside to Grandma Quiver.  I asked her what was wrong.  She said she was sick, and she was dying, and although everyone tried their very best, nothing could be done.  It was time for her to join Uncle Parker and her other brothers and sisters, and even her dog mom and dad in heaven.  I was very sad and I told Grandma Quiver that I didn't want her to go.  I told her that I needed her.  That Daisy and I needed her to help us learn about life.  Grandma Quiver said that she could not stay.  She told me that dying was a part of learning about life.  She told me that Uncle Justin would still be here for me, and my dog-mom Sammy too.  But she was an old dog, and it was just her time. "Nooooo" I shouted at her.  "You can't go" I said.  But Grandma Quiver said there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.  It would only mean more suffering.  "You don't want me to suffer, do you?" she asked.

Mom came outside, she was carrying Grandma Quiver's favorite red collar.  Mom called Grandma Quiver, then put the collar on her.  Then mom said "Let's load up old girl".  Grandma Quiver jumped into my crate in the back of the dog-show van.
Uncle Justin was there with Daisy, and we were all saying our good-byes.  Then I asked Grandma Quiver if she really thought she would be seeing Uncle Parker and her other brothers and sisters, and even her dog mom and dad in heaven?  Grandma Quiver said she would be seeing them all very soon.  So I asked her.  "Grandma Quiver, please tell Uncle Parker Thank You.  Please tell him that I love him and miss him very much.  Please tell him dad loves him and misses him very much too".  Mom started shutting the doors.  I jumped with my front feet on the van and I tried to give Grandma Quiver a kiss through the crate door.  I said "Goodbye Grandma Quiver... I love you". 

Mom told me to get down, then she shut the door.  James opened the gates and mom backed the van out of the driveway.  Dad took us dogs in the house, and he put Daisy and Justin in their beds.  Then dad gave me a bully-stick and told me to be a good puppy.  I didn't want a bully-stick and I didn't want to be a good puppy either.  I wanted Grandma Quiver to come back in the house.  Dad went out and closed the door.  I heard them drive away.  I went to my bed and cried myself to sleep.

I heard them come back a long time later.  As soon as they opened the door I ran to the van to check.  Grandma Quiver was not there.  I checked the whole yard. I checked the whole house.  Grandma Quiver was gone. 

Goodbye Grandma Quiver.  We love you and miss you very much.  I am a sad sad puppy.....

17 Dec 2009

Dad is still home.  His voice sounds a little better, but I can feel that he is still not feeling well.  So I jumped on the bed with him.  I'll make you feel better dad.  After a bit, dad got up to make coffee for mom.  Then dad let Daisy and me outside.  We had a good time in the back yard.  It was cold, but we ran around and stayed warm.  Then Uncle Justin came out to play.  I heard mom making our doggie-breakfast inside.  Then mom let us in.  She took Uncle Justin to his bed and gave him his breakfast.  Then she put daisy in Grandma Quiver's bed.

Oh - I remember now.  Grandma Quiver is gone.  I hung my head and slowly walked to dad.  Dad asked me what's wrong as he put my breakfast in my bowl.  I was hungry, so I ate.  But I was very sad too.  After breakfast I looked.... and mom took down Grandma Quiver's bed, then she moved Daisy's bed there next to Uncle Justin.  Our dog-mom Sammy still sleeps in mom's office.  I still sleep next to my dad.

A short while after breakfast mom and dad started putting up the Christmas Tree. This was supposed to be a fun thing to do.  But everyone was a little sad still. Then mom put Sammy and Daisy outside together, and let Uncle Justin loose in the house.  I got to play with Uncle Justin a little bit.  We are all still sad, but we are going to keep on doing things I guess.  I don't know when I stopped feeling so sad about Uncle Parker.  I guess I will be less sad about Grandma Quiver in the days to come.  But today I am still sad.  I think I will sit quietly with Uncle Justin and watch mom and dad put the Christmas Tree together. Maybe later on dad will make one of those fires again.  I would like that.

Bye for now.