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| at home on that dreaded day |
I keep saying I will never get a dog again, and I think it's true. This hurts too much. I am going to focus on being a Grandma (June 2019).
If you care to read on... do. But this next bit is just for me to always remember and never forget just a very few of her little Daisy-isms
- We spoke to eachother with just our eyes. I knew what she was saying, and vice versa.
- She knew when I was sad. She could be curled up somewhere in the house under multiple blankets, and she would always find her way to my face to lick away the tears.
- Going to the lake was fun with her because i didn't have to go by myself, and she loved it too. She would KNOW it was time to go somehow. Then she'd toddle her way up the steps of the camper and couldn't wait to jump onto her perch by the window on the back of the couch. In later years I had to lift her to that spot. She could watch the neighbors dogs, and see outside and feel the warmth of the sun.
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| at the lake in her spot |
- she always smelled so good. I would bury my face in her neck and just breathe. she liked the warmth. win win.
- she trusted me so much, she would let me do anything to her. flip her on her back to scratch her tummy, open her mouth to see her teeth or brush them, poke and squeeze and hold her any which way, and she'd just let it happen. (until I took out the nail clippers)
-she barely barked. especially in her older years. When she DID bark I would give her 'the look' and say "thank you" for warning me, and then she'd make a grumbly muffled whimper trying to hold it in, because she knew the rules.
-I took her everywhere. she always behaved. she would come to work and no one would even know she was there. We even snuck her into Mount Rushmore in a backpack, and she never made a peep.
- she used to climb on Mackenzie like she was a jungle gym. As soon as Kenzie was horizontal, or on the floor, Daisy would perch herself on top of her.
- when i was painting or on the computer, she would inform me by jumping on my leg, or wimpering on the edge of the bed, for me to pick her up, and she would perch on a pillow in front of me next to my chest, so i could have the keyboard on the other side of her. She'd stay there for hours of photo editing, or drawing on my iPad.
- She was the champion snuggler and heart healer. Affection was her middle name.
- I never felt alone, she was my constant companion. She just wanted to be near me. Nothing can compare to that feeling.
- She would always poke her nose into the bathroom door just to be sure she found me. She would sit at my feet, waiting for me to scratch her just above her tail. 3 little pats on the butt and off she'd go.
- in her later years she grew an affection for snacking on paper, especially toilet paper and would eat off of it like an apple on a core, ha.
- she loved golf cart rides at the lake. she'd close her eyes and let the breeze hit her, while her sniffer went wild... wiggling that little nose, so much to wonder about. She was such an indoor dog, I'm sure the outdoors was a very curious place.
- she loved riding in the backpack when we would go on walks, or go adventuring with my camera. no matter what time of year, I'd wedge her tightly in with blankets and she's be frozen in blissful comfort. Again, her sniffler nose going at full speed. When the sun would get in her eyes or the cold wind blow too hard, she'd just bury her nose in the blanket.
- She was an equal opportunity snuggler, if you were sitting down, she'd find your lap.
- If you quit petting her, she'd nudge your hand or lick it to get ya to focus on your job
- She often smelled of maple syrup, because Kenny could never resist sharing his food with her. especially pancakes. he'd make her own plate. Even when it was against the rules.
- She was on prednisone for years for her bouts with tummy trouble, and food sensitivity. chicken got her very squishy and grumbly in the tumbly.
- She would perch in any bag or purse or suitcase if she thought you were leaving without her.
- She sat in front of the basement door staring at me when i'd walk out the breezeway door. when she was a youngster, she'd whimper and break my heart a little. Then right in that same spot she'd be upon my return - tail wagging. Or if not at the door, I would pause inside the door and clickity clickity down the wood floored hallway she would come. I loved that sound, and swear sometimes i still hear it.
- When I got home and would go get my comfy clothes on, she would wait impatiently for the warm shirt and lay herself flat and as deep as she could inside the warm shirt before my heat dissipated.
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| her last time at work |
- She would sit either at my feet, or if she got bored, in her kennel as I cooked. just waiting to spring into vacuum mode when needed.
- Our bedtime routine was the same each night... as soon as she knew I was going to bed, she'd perch on the edge of the bed and watch me. When I went to get into the bed, she'd do a little scurry and do some circles just waiting to take her position. Often i'd have to hold her or move her to the side so I could get situated. Then she would find a spot on my cheek, or hand or arm and lick lick lick, rub her face on my hand and i would rub her ears and neck... when she was satisfied that she kissed me enough and I had pet her enough, she would wait for me to lift the blanket up and *beep beep beeep* she'd back her way into her spot at my side, her hind end backed up tight into my arm around the elbow. and if I didn't move, neither would she. You know all of us pet lovers do it... don't want to move so we don't interrupt the dog :)
A million more... a million trillion more moments spent and memories had. When you have a constant companion for 15 years, they are attached to every single moment. So much of Mackenzie's childhood...they grew up together. Even when i wasn't home, or with her... i was calling the answering machine just to say "I'm coming home soon daisy" so she can hear my voice, or i was arranging for her care, calling home to check in on her, missing her, looking forward to going home to her. Oh my GOD do i miss her. i will always miss her.
Without her, I feel like a part of my "schtick" is missing, i lost some charm... Kimmy with the cute dog, that crazy dog lady, the endless pictures and internet shares...Kimmy and Daisy, we were a thing. *sigh* She was the perfect PERFECT dog for me. She was the dog of a lifetime.
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| they grew up together - i cherish this moment in time |
