Goodbye little girl
Nov. 14th, 2022 07:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
farrandyThe last time I made a post here was when Puck passed. Either that says something about my life or it's just that I couldn't say something about Puck without also saying something about Esme when her time came.
Anyway...
Twelve and a half years ago, we decided to adopt another dog, and we found a listing and a picture at the animal shelter for a female corgi mix. Puck was a corgi-pomeranian mix, so we thought, sure, why not? We went out to have a look at her and immediately knew this was the one. We signed the papers, paid the fees and left her there so she could be spade. The next day I went out to pick her up, snapped on a collar and leash and said "Let's go home little girl."
She was a skinny little thing, mostly ears and feet, and quickly let us all know that she was a force to be reckoned with. We named her after Esme Weatherwax, the no-nonsense witch from Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. She even had Puck cowed.
For a week or so.
Then he reasserted himself as alpha and it stayed that way until he was gone. And then Esme lived up to her namesake, taking no foolishness from Gytha, or Opus, when that brat came along.
Esme's favorite thing in the world was food, so she didn't stay skinny for very long. She liked everyone. Even Opus (though she tried to make us think she was just putting up with him, we knew better). She had the prettiest yellow-red fur, and while she loved being petted, she didn't care much for hugging). She had a sharp piercing bark that could be heard half a block away.
She had been slowing down a lot over the past year, though still desperate to go for a walk whenever she could get one. But last week, not long after a rousing game of tug of war with Opus, she collapsed on the kitchen floor and couldn't get up. We helped her up, but she walked with difficulty, as if she was going to topple over at any moment.
And then she lost interest in food. That's when we knew it was time.
You were wonderful, Esme, and we still love you very much.
Goodbye, little girl.
Anyway...
Twelve and a half years ago, we decided to adopt another dog, and we found a listing and a picture at the animal shelter for a female corgi mix. Puck was a corgi-pomeranian mix, so we thought, sure, why not? We went out to have a look at her and immediately knew this was the one. We signed the papers, paid the fees and left her there so she could be spade. The next day I went out to pick her up, snapped on a collar and leash and said "Let's go home little girl."
She was a skinny little thing, mostly ears and feet, and quickly let us all know that she was a force to be reckoned with. We named her after Esme Weatherwax, the no-nonsense witch from Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. She even had Puck cowed.
For a week or so.
Then he reasserted himself as alpha and it stayed that way until he was gone. And then Esme lived up to her namesake, taking no foolishness from Gytha, or Opus, when that brat came along.
Esme's favorite thing in the world was food, so she didn't stay skinny for very long. She liked everyone. Even Opus (though she tried to make us think she was just putting up with him, we knew better). She had the prettiest yellow-red fur, and while she loved being petted, she didn't care much for hugging). She had a sharp piercing bark that could be heard half a block away.
She had been slowing down a lot over the past year, though still desperate to go for a walk whenever she could get one. But last week, not long after a rousing game of tug of war with Opus, she collapsed on the kitchen floor and couldn't get up. We helped her up, but she walked with difficulty, as if she was going to topple over at any moment.
And then she lost interest in food. That's when we knew it was time.
You were wonderful, Esme, and we still love you very much.
Goodbye, little girl.
no subject
Date: 2023-11-12 05:19 am (UTC)It's hard to believe that you've been gone for a year. There hasn't been a single day pass that I haven't thought about you, and when I do, it's so hard to keep the tears from flowing (they are now).
About three months ago, we brought home another little girl dog. Not to replace you; no one could do that, my little girl. Just to help fill the enormous Esme-shaped hole you left in our lives. Luna is doing that, but at the same time carving out a space that is all her own. She does have a lot of your qualities though. Like you, she started out life as a street dog, and so can't ever get enough to eat. She's still just a puppy and like you were when we first brought you home, has been chewing and destroying a lot of stuff. We're hoping that like you, she grows out of that. And then there are the ears. They're not as big as yours, but they are still pretty impressive (especially since it looks like she is going to be much smaller than you).
Opus and Gytha have finally settled down and accepted her, and it' good to see them all playing together like when you were here.
We don't go for walks anymore. Gytha got attacked by some vicious dogs up the street. Not badly, but it drove home the fact that it's just too dangerous to do. The only reason that Gytha wasn't hurt more was her size and thick fur. I shudder to think about if it had been Opus or Luna . Or you.
I guess that's all for now. We still miss you so much.
Lay down your sweet and weary head,
Night is falling: we have come to journey's end
Sleep now; dream of the ones who came before
They are calling, from across a distant shore....
no subject
Date: 2024-11-12 01:11 am (UTC)Not much has happened in the last year. Well, not for us; in the big bad world, yeah, but this isn't the place for that.
Luna is fitting right in now. She lays in the way in the kitchen while we're fixing supper like you used to do, and climbs into bed with us. And tonight she and Gytha were running around the backyard and wrestling like you used to do. I'm glad she's here.
Because she helps ease the pain of the fact that you aren't.
We miss you every day.