She’s been gone less than 24 hours and I still can’t quite fathom that fact.
The cushion next to my chair is empty...as empty as my soul. I somehow expected
I’d see her there this morning as I went for my coffee...but alas it was not to
be.
We think she had a small stroke a week or so ago. Her head tilted to the left
and the light in her eyes didn’t burn as bright. It was no doubt starting to
flicker. She has always been such a “fussy clean girl” and we noticed more
accidents. Her head didn’t rise from the pillow as often or as fast. The light
in her eyes was going dimmer. Our hearts were dimming, too. We knew that
yesterday was coming although we prayed it would not. Some time ago I wrote “Da
List” a post titled “My Sunday With Maggie”. I saved it and the kind responses
in my Special folder I created in my email program. It’s there with the post
saying goodbye to Molly and those responses, too. Why is it so hard to say
Goodbye? Why are we so selfish to believe they will live forever? It is,
without doubt, the most difficult part of our sport. We tend to outlive them
all...except the ones we will leave behind.
Maggie went to see Grandpa Nick on the very cushion I mentioned
earlier...surrounded by her “family”...Jenn...Peggy...& me. We found a
wonderful vet who came to the house. She was so nice...so caring...so
appropriate for the moment. We all were spared the bright lights and the stark
stainless steel of a vets office. It was as it should be...in our new home
amidst family and caring people. The end result was no less sad but my heart
leaps with the thought of Nick once again...lunging that never ending ball of
fire and energy...Magnolia as he has done so many times before. So many
memories...so many...
It was time tho...it was time. AOE SEL EX AM CH & 2 X SEL CAN CH & GRD CH
Rivendell’s Magnolia TC HSAs is at rest.
Paul
