I have to
talk about my little Lexie and losing her, and Killer Hobbies feels like the
best place to do it--partly because she was such an inspiration to my writing,
one of the main reasons so much of my work now includes dogs.
You see,
I've been owned by Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for a long time. They're all special to me, including my
remaining, adorable nut-case Mystie, who will never grow up.
But among
them all, Lexie was the most special.
She became
part of my family thirteen years ago. I
began writing my first cozy mystery series, the Kendra Ballantyne Pet-Sitter
Mysteries, not long afterward. Kendra
was a lawyer who lived in the Hollywood Hills with her tricolor Cavalier King
Charles Spaniel named Lexie. And yes,
you may be aware that I was then a practicing lawyer, I live in the Hollywood
Hills... and then there was Lexie. The
first Kendra book, SIT, STAY, SLAY, has a cover depicting a cartoon Cavalier resembling
Lexie.
Lexie
taught me a lot about how dogs can communicate and love like humans. She could tell time and always let me know,
starting about an hour before her dinner time, that mealtime was
approaching. Recently, when she needed a
pill around noon, she'd tell me that time, too--since she got her pills in food
she liked.
She liked
to walk. She liked to run. And we have a nice, large backyard that she
liked to explore and exercise in. Since
she got treats when she used that yard as doggies do, she would look up at me
when she was done to make sure I saw her.
Plus she would wag her tail. She
wagged her tail often, especially while looking me in the eyes.
She
constantly gave me orders. As she aged,
she liked sleeping in front of a particular air conditioner vent near the floor
and would stand near it and look at me till I turned the air on for her. Her mobility began to decrease recently, and
she let me know that she no longer wanted to walk down the two tile steps from
our entryway into our living room by standing there barking one day till I
figured it out. Mostly, though, she
wasn't bothered by her dwindling mobility.
In fact,
with all her problems, she was always happy, looking into my eyes despite her
increasing vision issues, cocking her head (partly because of her vestibular
disease), and giving little air-licks of happiness to show she appreciated how
close we were.
But Lexie
was a Cavalier. And despite current
breeders often being better about breeding parents whose health is acceptable,
Cavaliers still get mitral valve heart disease.
Till Lexie, mine were all diagnosed with it at around age five. She didn't get it till around age ten... and
she went into heart failure a year ago, at age twelve.
I stayed
home from a recent family trip my husband took since I was too worried about
Lexie's health to go, though I was concerned she'd leave us before his
return. She didn't. She started declining more a couple of days
before he was expected back... and when we took her to her cardiologist and she
didn't respond well to the additional medication, it was time.
She crossed
the Rainbow Bridge exactly a week ago, on Wednesday,
October 12.
We all miss
her, including her sort-of sister Mystie, who is getting more attention, of
course, but is clearly depressed. We
will most likely get her another Cavalier companion--for us, too.
But not as
a replacement for our Lexie. That would
be impossible.
Bye,
Lex. We love you.
P.S. I'm aware that my photo when I answer
comments shows Lexie with me. I'll keep
it that way, at least for now.
13 comments:
When you have furr babies, your life is richer and you can be a better person if you allow your baby into your heart. I have had people tell me it's just a dog or cat. No, when you let them into your heart, they take care of you just as much if not more than you do for them. So sorry for your loss. daw655 (at)hotmail (dot)com
You are so right. Our pets are important and beloved family members. Thanks so much for your sentiments.
I know you will miss Lexie, but she is only a memory away. And it is true that we are able to call them up at will and remember all the good times. They are the only ones that remain.
You're right about those memories. I keep seeing her out of the corner of my eye...
No new pet replaces a beloved fur baby, but your heart stretches to be filled with more love.
How true, and how sweet, Cheryl.
This is a very touching and clearly heartfelt post. I've been where you are, and there are no words that can ease the pain of your loss. I do know, however, that the day will come when you can think of her with a smile instead of tears. And that's why we are able to take on another four-legged friend, even knowing sorrow may lurk at the end of the road.
Thanks, Bonnie. I've been here before, too, and know I can move forward, but Lexie was particularly special and I'll always miss her.
A beautiful tribute, a pet is a beloved member of one's family!
A beautiful tribute, a pet is a beloved member of one's family!
Sleek sable Ozra, royal Dane,
Small Jetsam, of strange pedigree,
Bolo, who crossed the Spanish main,
And shy, devoted Scotch Dundee,
And all that eager trusting band
Who lived their lives as best they knew;
Who thrust wet muzzles 'gainst my hand,
And gave me love beyond my due;
So gallantly each played his part
That no new friend usurps his place.
In quiet corner of my heart
Each owns, still warm, a bedding space.
I'll not believe their jaunty tails
Are drooping in Death's gloomy pound -
But one by one they found the trails
That lead to some far hunting ground.
I hope it breaks no holy laws
If 'neath God's table they ae fed;
I like to think their spirit paws
May dig Elysium's garden bed.
And He who fashioned grass and trees,
And cars for sparrows, beasts and men,
May let them press against His knees
And stoop to stroke them now and then.
-Burges Johnson, in *Sonnets from the
Pekinese*, 1935
Linda, what a wonderful tribute to Lexie. I can see how special she was to you.
Thanks, Judy. Yes, Lexie was definitely a member of our family.
What a lovely poem, Monica. Thank you.
And yes, Betty, Lexie was definitely special to me.
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