I Love Lucy

My first child didn't come from inside me. She came from a dog rescue, but I loved her like my baby, because she is, was, and always will be my baby. Her name was Lucy, and (with all due respect to everyone's dog out there) she was the best dog on the planet.

Her unconditional love and sweetness uncorked in me the same capacity for loving another living thing with no strings attached. It was through my relationship with her that I realized I could be a mother, and a good mom at that. Much to my husband's dismay, I confess that I had our first child E for her. "Look at how good she is with little kids," I told him, "if we're going to have children, I want to do it before she's too old."

My time with Lucy ended this morning. She was thirteen, and it was her time to go. But knowing that doesn't make her absence any less bitter; it doesn't fill the Rottweiler-shaped hole in my heart.

For now, I'm filling that void with the outpouring of love I've received from friends and family who have heard the news. I can tell that she brought joy to everyone she met, and that does make her absence just the slightest bit more bearable.

Thanks to all who have given your sympathies and shed a tear for my beloved Tiny Princess. I'm trying my best to smile instead of cry when I think of her; I hope you'll do the same. I know it's how she would want to be remembered.

Goodbye, Jerrianne

I posted earlier about my friends' sweet yellow lab, Jerrianne, and her battle with cancer. I am heartbroken to say that Jerrianne passed away a week ago. I was so overcome by the news that I broke down in tears at work when I read the e-mail.

Although she was not my dog, and I only saw her once a month, she brought me (and my dogs) an immeasurable amount of joy with her gentle and loving personality. Goodbye, Jerrianne. I miss you.

If you have a dog (or any other pet), give him/her a hug to remind yourself that every day with your furry friend is precious.

Update on Jerrianne

I heard from my friends last week that their baby Jerrianne (see previous post) does indeed have cancer. They removed her spleen and have her on chemo therapy. Jerrianne is looking happy and well in her pictures, but of course, my friends are feeling very bittersweet.

Thoughts and prayers for you, Jerrianne, and to your adoring family.

Grateful For The Four-Legged Kids

E and V are so time-consuming and demanding that I have not had a chance to mention my first two kids: Lucy and Stubby. Both dogs are getting old now, and sometimes it takes a sad situation to remind me about my four-legged kids who love me just as much as the two-legged ones, if not more.

Our friends' dog Jerrianne recently had to have a biopsy, and our friends are still waiting to hear the results. If the growth on her spleen turns out to be cancer, she may have only one to six months to live. Jerrianne is only nine, two years younger than Lucy.

I feel so lucky that Lucy and Stubby are relatively healthy (so far) in their old age and active and loving life. They have accepted E and V into their pack, even though we spend considerably less time with them since the kids were born. They are wonderful dogs and wonderful first children for me. I'm so grateful to have them in my life. I can't even imagine how I could cope with our friends' situation.

So make a wish for, say a prayer, or however you commune with the universe, please ask for Jerrianne to be OK. Her parents are holding their breath and hoping that with enough love, their baby can heal.