Canine, Family

Eulogy for a Dog

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Breagha (‘Beautiful’) was not a normal dog. She was people-smart. If one of the little dogs needed to go outside they told her and she told me. They are as lost now as we; Daisy won’t even go to the side yard, sticking as close to the back door as possible. She keeps watching for Bree to come out so she’ll feel safe. Bree was her rock.

I could tell Bree something once or twice and she got it. She knew many, many words. Training was a breeze and though we didn’t keep up with it, she remembered even unto old age. A thinker, sometimes she over-thought things.

She saved my life when the electric blanket I was using started to catch fire, barking at it to alert me.

We started each day with a hug, her ears going back while sidling up to me for the ritual.

After I showered each day and started to blow dry my hair, she would come in the bathroom. I’d turn the dryer on cool and run it over her, saying “Aren’t you a purty girl?” and she’d grin and preen for me.

At first I was heartbroken to see her nowhere and now, still bereft, I see her everywhere. Don’t know what’s worse.

It’s probably the last time I’ll say/write this: Her sire, CH Deep River Bow and Arrow, was the #1 Smooth Collie in the US, all systems, in 2008.

I love this dog. And I will miss her until I die. There was so much more to her, so much she gave us, just loving us and being part of our lives. Suffice it to say that she was a good dog and she will be missed. Goodbye, Big Love.

Canine, Family

The Chair

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Now that I’m over the shock of losing Breagha (though stuck in a stultifying haze; I dropped my house key somewhere between here and the grocery store. How?!) all the funny things she used to do are coming back.

She loved this chair, but always looked so awkward on it. Possibly the only time she looked so, as she had a natural grace. Bree never even went through that gangly puppy phase.

Poor Tammi made me mistake of sitting in “the chair”

The chair fell apart and we removed it to the curb. She was not happy, taking up residence in “the comfy chair” for the duration.

Canine, Family

Take The Sky

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Breagha, aka Younghaven Take The Sky, has passed on to her next great adventure.

She was the most intelligent, obstinate, opinionated dog I ever knew, but she was my friend.

I hope your travels take you far, sweet girl. But not so far that we can’t catch up. Dad and I miss you terribly.

Personal

The Refrigerator Scandal

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A cautionary tale.

On July 8th of this year I ordered a new refrigerator from Home Depot to be delivered and installed in my home.  

As was appropriate, a date was set for delivery. I kept checking the web site and saw that the date changed. This happened TWO more times. I was not called or emailed anything; I had to haunt the site to keep apprised of my numerous delivery dates.  

Finally, I called Tuesday, July 23rd and a woman told me that this time it was really happening! “It was back ordered, but they have yours” she said. Saturday, July 27th my fridge would be delivered!   The appointment slot was between 2:30 and 6:30.

Saturday the old fridge was emptied (again) and everything chucked into coolers. I checked the website with a doggedness born of disappointment – but fearful of it being changed again as the day wore on I called once again… and was told that it was back ordered.   The fourth time was not the charm. As a matter of fact, one person I spoke with reported that the delivery guys wouldn’t even answer their phone. Nice.

HD lost a customer because of either their ineptitude or that of their contracted delivery company.

We heard good things about Brandsmart, so I ordered the same fridge from them and it was installed two days later. How hard was that, really?

This is the fridge we bought.

I love it!! Thank you Brandsmart!

I received nothing for this post; just the pleasure of calling HD out.

Personal

What Ifs

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…or Nature vs Nurture vs the insanity in our own heads.

I’ve no grand revelations. Not even inspirations. But my brain is full of What Ifs. Those lead to more What Ifs and triggered nightmares. Last night I was in high school and missed one class. Okay, I skipped. Then I found out that my father had come to that class, in full uniform. I had missed him.

And that’s what I did. Missed the auld man… for 61 years.

While we -the husband and I- were there, talking to Dad… still surreal… Mike kept remarking how we are so alike, father and daughter. In some very basic ways, we are. I understand and appreciate nature.

Here’s where the nurture comes in… I’m so different than my half siblings… in so many ways. That has more to do with different mothers; it’s also nurture. What if I’d grown up in his house, with my siblings? Instead of socially awkward I might be adept at interacting with others. Like them, I might have had a wonderful career instead of jobs.

My folks lived through the depression and not in a graceful, Waltons sort of way. Needless to say, it had a profound effect on them and I think they were just happy to keep me fed. College was not mentioned. What I would do after high school? Must have been my responsibility, but I had no idea.

Perhaps I would have turned out the same person if he had raised me, but I keep asking myself “What If?”