Seeing as she was 14, I know it shouldn't be a shock, and I guess it isn't, but it still made me very sad. Poor B came home and found her in the backyard, and I am so sad that happened for him. I am happy she died on such a nice day, at home, and I imagine that she laid down and fell asleep, and that was that. The way I'd imagine would be the best to go.
Thinking tonight about what a great and unique dog she was, and what a special role she played in my family. She lived with B for a year, then me for 2 years, then the parentals, and then B & Co. for the last years. Here are some of the things I thought of while driving around tonight:
- Alpha Dog: She'd stare down any dog. I thought it would just last as long as she was a bad ass, but dogs just didn't fuck with Sado (maybe it was the name?) even a few weeks ago.
- Playing at the cemetary in Davis. She and Shadow would tag team dogs to take them down like raptors.
- Tennis balls off B's living room wall...richocet down the hall. I can still see all the ball mark's above your fireplace.
- Fort Funston...many walks...many friends. (And another Sadie dog...who almost went home with someone else).
- Cabin at Berryessa...sprayed by a skunk, doing fly by circle 8's on poor Loop Sham Loop.
- Finding her at the pound. Brad thought we were going to 24 Hour to work out...sucker!
- Houseboat trips.
- Driving to and from Davis. She insisted in sitting in the front passenger seat the entire way up. Until I got out of the car, when she'd take the driver's seat.
- Hair, hair, everywhere.
- Hitting fly balls with the Blucker boys and having Mac and Saide shag for us.
- B's graduation pics from college. She was in the pics too, and that dog could not take a bad picture! Is it bad that we ordered them based on how cute she looked? (The head tilt one was my favorite.)
- How I ever shared a twin bed with that dog (and during the summers in Davis no less).
- Getting a ticket for walking her off-leash and fighting the ticket in court for 4 hours.
I think the thing I am most grateful to Sadie for (in terms of the very big picture), is the relationship having her allowed Brad and I to build. Somehow, we didn't seem to find each other nearly as irritating when she was around. and although he still stinks at backgammon, I'm able to give him the good grace a nice girl should.
The title of this post is what I was saying when I would go visit Sado. Although her knees and joints were aching, she still had the Sadie smile and the Foss hunger. She was great, I'll miss her, and I'm thankful for having had such a great companion for our whole family for so many years.
Below is an excerpt from the House Dog's Grave, a poem I read in college, and it's always struck a chord for me in terms of what pets mean to us.
To me you were true.
You were never masters, but friends. I was your friend.
I loved you well, and was loved. Deep love endures
To the end and far past the end. If this is my end,
I am not lonely. I am not afraid. I am still yours.
Love and miss you Sadie.
