More on my Liz

A few days ago, I wrote about the passing of my beloved first dog, Lizzie. At that time, I said that would probably not be my last post, and indeed, it's not. In fact, it's almost impossible to say when "the last" time i'll reminisce on here about her will be, because anyone who spends 14 years with you is going to leave a lot of memories, and a lasting impression.

This is a lot less sad post than the last one was, in no small part because time has passed. At the time of this posting, it will be a week on the dot since she passed, and I've had to function as a person a few times since then. My other two dogs are coping- they still seem confused a little bit about why she's not around, but they are eating and playing and generally going about their routine. Normalcy is settling back in, and at least there are two of them around to keep each other company. Everyone's coping good with the loss of a family member, all things considered.

So, some random things about Lizzie:

• Her favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved wearing her bells and getting presents, which I guess is understandable. When she was younger, her presents would be things like chew toys. As she got older, she got the good stuff- beds, blankets, and other things that made her feel good. She also liked that we'd eat breakfast most years, often salmon, and that she could beg away some food.
• This is not to say that she didn't love Thanksgiving, which was always at my family's. She would spend most of her time under the table begging, and my great-aunt Mary was caught a few years ago giving them sweets and stuff. That was a tough Thanksgiving.
• When Lizzie was a baby, my family had a pool, so I took her in and she loved swimming. We got rid of the pool though, and for many years she really didn't swim much. Last Summer, we took all three of them down to the sandy beach in Lower Mount Bethel Township for a party, and sure enough, even with her old, arthritic legs, she still loved being in the water (though I did hold her up as she swam).
• Liz never had puppies (I thought she should have), but young Nugget sort of became her kid. She would yell at him, get in his face, and yet leave him a little bit of food in her bowl at the end of breakfast, knowing he'd come and eat it. She was quite good to him.
• Sleeping in a bed with Liz was amusing. Though she never reached 25 pounds, she would literally push against you and move you throughout the night so she could have the space she wanted. She eventually wanted a pillow. That was a bit much for a dog.
• Liz got along very well with other dogs, especially as she aged. She was just so chill that they would sniff each other and just hang out then.
• If you wanted to know when dinner was ready, you just listened to the tapping of her feet. As she aged, Liz would literally tap the feet to let the people around know that she wanted some food. We generally obliged.
• She really liked to pose for pictures. She was quite the diva.

As I said, a week ago at this moment, Liz passed on to the next life. Hopefully she's running and playing by the Rainbow Bridge, and someday we'll meet again.

Rest Easy, My Lizzie

Not much is left of 2002 Rich Wilkins. I was a senior in high school when my mother and sister brought home our first puppy, Lizzie, on Good Friday of that year. The number of things that have happened since then are staggering. I graduated from both Easton Area High School and Moravian. I've said goodbye to my grandfather, a couple of great-aunts, a couple of great-uncles, and an uncle. I watched the Phillies win and lose a World Series. I cast my first, second, and third votes for President of the United States. The Iraq War came and went. I've lived in New York, DC, Harrisburg and Iowa (twice). I've been on the payrolls of four U.S. Senators' campaigns. I could keep going at this all day and night if I wanted. The world is a very different place than it was then. I'm a very different person.

I have not had a happy moment since Friday afternoon. That is how sad I am to have put down my first dog. They say if you want a loyal friend, buy a dog, and I can now vouch for that forever. Lizzie had debilitating arthritis in her back legs, and the reality was that her ability to function was going, and yet I still am debating with myself if it was the right move. There's just something very unsettling about watching an animal that trusted you with it's life pass in front of you. It's something that I absolutely had to go with her to, but probably will be very different forever after. I'm definitely struggling right now.

Friends, girls, troubles, and thrills came and went, and yet I had one very, very loyal friend. She was virtually my last link to high school me. We aged together, and even when I was a shitbag of a person, she at least wanted to be around me. Obviously, an 18 year old person will outlive their dog, so this was always part of the deal. I knew that. In a sense, i'm at least proud of myself that I was with her to the bitter end. In another sense, I do wonder what she thought of me at that end. Did I live up to being the person that my dog believed I was? I'd like to know that.

What should you know about my eldest dog? There's lots of funny stories. Here's a few of them:

• There was a huge party at my house during Musikfest of 2002. Her and one of my friends (RIP GR) answered the door with me when the chief of police in Palmer Township knocked on my door. She also drank a spilled beer off the floor during that week long party. At least I knew she had my back. 
• Of my three dogs, she's the only one who ever kind of tried to wonder off. Our neighbor once found her around the corner, sitting on the street corner by herself. She didn't go far, but she definitely liked to explore.
• Much of my family was happy to see me when I came home from Iowa, but no one was happier than Lizzie. She would not leave my side during both my one visit home in 2007, or when I came home in 2008. 
• She used to love morning pancakes, just like her people. Coincidentally, I love pancakes too.
• As a young dog, she loved her "greenies" (a green, chewy toy that she would chew on) and her "sock ball" (literally a tennis ball in a tied off sock). As she aged, she didn't care as much about toys, but did like to run after the younger dogs. Even as she lost her speed, she outsmarted them by cutting off their angles in hallways and out in the yard. She knew every turn better than anyone else she raced after. As she aged, her Christmas present of choice were beds that she could lay down on and stretch out, and sleep. 
• For much of her life, she loved to sleep with me in bed. On her final afternoon, I brought her back up to lay with me on that bed. You can see the smiling picture above. 

I could tell a lot more about her, but I'll save that. I doubt this will be my last post about her, at least this week. I've been a bit quiet the past few days, and that's about where my mood is. I guess i'm just thinking a lot about the past 14 years, and my most loyal supporter over that time. Rest easy, Lizzie, I hope you have a nice spot in heaven where you can run and play.

For Me, It's Always National Puppy Day

Yesterday was National Puppy Day, which is awesome, because I love dogs. They are very loyal, loving animals, and you can't go wrong with one, if you take the time to raise it right. Don't tell me a breed is bad, I'll show you an equal number of bad owners. Don't tell me you have a better friend than a dog, you don't.

For me, every day is "National Puppy Day." My three dogs, Lizzie (14), Sweetpea (9), and Nugget (3) are all the best. When I get sick of dealing with political people, or just people in general, I can always find interested friends in my dogs. So, today, I will celebrate them, a day late, because it's always a good day to celebrate your dogs.

A December to Remember, 12/6- Things I'm Thankful For

Every day in December I'm going to blog about one thing that i'm thankful for and want to highlight. Today for December 6th, I'm thankful for my pack- my three dogs!

In 2002, we got Lizzie on Good Friday. Sweetpea came along in 2007, while I was living in Iowa. Nugget came to us last December 20th, as we saved him from being sent to the pound. They are three of the nicest animals you'll ever meet, they all just love people. While they can be quite a bit of work, they are all really fun, and have their own distinct personality that I've learned to deal with. They are the most loyal friends you can have.