I've had the shit kicked out of me over the weekend and thought a time or two about posting about it, whether I should or not. But, I will anyways. We lost one of our dogs over the weekend. Her name was Rita ( I named her after Rita Hayworth because I was reading a biography about her at the time we got Rita as a puppy) and she was a lab/husky mix and she was 15 years old. Yes, she had a good long life (sometimes, it was hard for her), but that is never really a comfort. I won't go into details, but she suffered on her last day. That day will be burned into my mind for a long time.
Anyways, Rita was great. As any pet owner would attest to, she had a unique personality. Years ago, when we had our cat, those two were a trip. They were like Tom and Jerry, constantly messing with one another, but at the end of the day they were usually found laying next to each other.
She would love to lay in the leaves in the fall, so when I was raking I always piled them up by the gate under the lilac bush and that's where she would always plop down. The picture on top is from last fall before there was a huge pile of leaves and since this is an art related blog, I did a sketch of her from an older photo.
She was cool and she took care of us for 15 years.
I'm a wuss about these things.
12 comments:
Bruce,
Sorry that you lost one of your kids, I know how much you loved Rita.We will all miss her.
Dad
Bruce, I am really sorry. I know that must hurt a lot. I also am a dog lover and I can't imagine not having ours around - - they truly become a part of the family -- like an eternal child. Much peace to you and to Rita...she is a beauty.
Bruce, I'm truly sorry to hear about Rita. I own a cat (that thinks she's a dog, so I'm probably really a dog person) who is about middle aged now, and the inevitability of losing her is very hard for me to think about.... So I cannot imagine how you must feel after having Rita for half a lifetime longer. Yet I'm glad you're able to remember the great times and how she "took care of you" for so many years. And for what it's worth, Ms. Hayworth had nothin' on your ol' pooch.
Dad: Thanks, I hope that she'll be missed by most.
Ana: Thanks for the kind words, Ana. You know, I don't even explain to people how they are a part of the family anymore. If they don't get it, they never will. She is a beauty, i agree. She had this great way of howling a greeting at you, like a "roo-ooo-ooo." So, that's what Tina's dad called her, Roo-Roo.
Mike: Thanks Mike. We had a cat that thought she was a dog, too. She would actually respond when we called her. At least with most cats, they can live up to 20 years or so, especially when they are mostly indoor cats, so that's a good thing.
thanks for the kind words my friends.
bruce, it's sad to hear about the departure of your dear friend rita, she's a real beauty... may she rest in peace...
for a moment i thought she was a wolf, but there's a gentleness and homeliness about her which the wild ones lack, which is so appealing and endearing...
your simple yet sensitive drawing is a wonderful tribute to her, thanx, it's something to be cherished!
I feel with you. It's so sad loosing a companion and friend of years of our lives, and dogs do tend to come very close to our hearts. I still miss my childhood German shephard, Aro. I wish you many good and happy memories of your days with Rita.
Dintoons: Thanks Dinesh, she is a beauty. Rita did howl like a wolf, albeit in a friendly manner. The wild ones ( I like them too) have those same qualities, you just have to look a little deeper sometimes. And not get too close near feeding time. Thanks again Dinesh.
Merisi: Hi Merisi, thanks for the kind words all the way from Austria! My childhood dog was Kiki, a malemute/husky mix. Now, she was a character. Never barked, only howled. Everyone in the neighborhood loved her.
We didn't own a dog* while I was little (the oldest of eight), because my parents were worried a dog would suffer with so many little hands pulling in all directions. We got Aro when I was a teenager, when he fitted into a flower pot. Me and my father were the only ones he obeyed without we having to use words. He was not supposed to jump on the sofas, but didn't care, but whenever I entered the room, would he slowly get off, all the while looking at me like an offended Majesty. :-)
When I was very little, we found a three-legged dog somewhere in the woods. We were overjoyed and played with him all the day, til the game came to a sad end (for us), when the owner, a farmer from some miles away, came to pick up his little white fluffy runaway.
I had put the asterisk next to the word dog, because three times in a row I had typed "god". Somewhat fitting, methinks.
Yes, god is the word for dog in our house, ha, ha.
Wow, eight siblings! And I thought I had it bad with three of us.
so, you mentioned that you lived in the States. Are you an Austrian or an American living in Austria? Or something else? I think that my Great Grandparents were from Austria. I'd have to look up from where, though.
Bruce,
Sorry that you lost one of your Dogs, I know how much you loved Rita and we all will miss her. I know what you were going there, When we lost honey it was a very hard and trying things.
Love, David, Julie, & Dayna
Thanks guys.
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