OH DEER!

I must preface this blog entry by saying I still think Michigan is a great place to live. There is lots of wildlife and I have become immune to MOST of the road kill that you see on a very regular basis both big and small. It is when the road kill becomes too close to my personal space that it bothers me. I did not enjoy the possum that landed in our driveway last year. For those of you with weak stomachs you might not want to read further. I don’t remember what we did with the possum (actually I can’t say WE because there is no way I would have touched the thing – even with a shovel). However, the possum tail was severed and that remained on our driveway for a really long time. Our driveway is not some nicely paved or cemented surface but mostly dirt and gravel. The gravel varies in quality and size along the drive but that is a completely different story. So the tail kind of blended in with everything else until I would go out to get the mail. YUCK! There was a day when this wouldn’t have bothered me either.

So the latest road kill is just too much for me. The very peaceful, not so alive deer you see in this picture makes me kind of sad. In fact it’s almost too disturbing to me. The deer is actually across the street. The property across the street from us is lined with wild growing vegetation, an overgrown ditch filled with our neighbors leaves and then beyond that the ground is farmed. We have been told it is owned by the University but I do not know for sure. So this deer is not really on our property but every time I pull in or out of our driveway I see it lying there so peacefully. Every time I look out the front bedroom windows I see it lying there. It’s not a bloody mess. It looks like it stretched out for a nap and never woke up – although I am positive this is not what happened. So I have heard comments that since there are so many deer in this state, if you hit it, it’s yours to do with as you wish. I guess getting free deer meat in exchange for your car repair bill is a small benefit. I have had deer meat several times but I’m just not a huge meat eater to begin with so I have no desire to do anything productive with it. The deer was obviously not desired by whoever hit it either. Looking at it just makes me think of having to put Sadie to sleep a few months ago. I know HUGE size difference but one of Sadie’s owners when she was a pup called her Clarisse because she looked like Rudolph’s girl friend. I now see the resemblance!

The scene is killing me and I don’t want to spend the next several months watching the decay process, too up close and personal! Nor do I want to see other things begin to use it for dinner, like the hawks that flew off it when I pulled into the driveway after taking the kids to school. So I put off calling the county Sheriff's office for a day because I was afraid they would laugh at me. I had to find out for myself if it’s really true that there is no provision for picking up a dead animal. Unfortunately it’s true. They do a spring pick up and that is it. OK so I don’t need my taxes to go up so they do more pickups but I did not like the choices that were given. They said I could drag it to the ditch (which is full with leaves), bury it or get someone else do to this. HEAVY SIGH!! Anyone want a dead deer? Anyone want to drag this to the ditch and cover it with the neighbor’s leaves? I am having a deer dilemma!

08-08-2008 - Tribute

So we understand that 8-8-2008 is supposed to be a good luck day, at least in China. I don't think it is just because the Olympics opened today. We did watch the first part of the opening (up to the parade) and we thought it was pretty spectacular. Wish we could have been there for the fireworks or to see any of it in person. What a show. 15,000 performers, I can't even imagine coordinating them!

It may not seem like good luck but 8-8-2008 will be the day we celebrate the life of our dog and little friend Sadie who we have loved for over 16 years. We made the choice to let her take a long nap and have a better life without her aging body. This afternoon she peacefully went to sleep while being held lovingly by big daddy who doesn't mind admitting that he cried as she passed away in his arms. Her feisty spirit moved on to a better place. We are so sad to say goodbye but the memories of her life will remain with us always.

For those reading this who have never had to say goodbye to a pet you have loved for over 16 years you may not understand why we would need to write such a lengthy sappy tribute to our friend. She was our only “child” for 7+ years. She was fun, playful and could bark at the neighbor's cat on cue providing lots of entertainment. She loved to be near us. For years she would not sleep anywhere but burrowed under the covers between us. It was often annoying but it became pointless to keep her out. She would find her way back in there while you were sound asleep. I finally gave up trying and accepted it as her way to say she loved being with us. It's amazing she never suffocated being burrowed so deep.

She traveled with us a several times, even on airplanes in the cabin. Once she wiggled the zipper loose and got out. Fortunately it was quickly fixed. She hated flying and being cooped up in the small bag. The drugs to relax her helped but not completely. She went fishing with us once and this is when we learned that if you hold her over water (not in the water) her instincts did in fact kick in and she would be paddling those legs as fast as she could. It was actually quite hilarious to watch.

There were years (long ago) she had to put up with being dressed in 4th of July attire, had reindeer antlers for Christmas (was it really Clarice, Rudolph's girlfriend?), also a green bow tie for St Pats and doggie sweaters of various kinds. The favorite jacket for one of us and least favorite for the other was her "Elvis coat" as it was termed, a fuzzy blue coat with a collar that could fold down or stick up 80’s style. It was perfect for winter days!

Some might say Chihuahuas are mean dogs and can only be drawn to one owner. So just to be safe, when friends came over, we usually locked her in the master bathroom. Some of our friends didn't even know we owned a dog. She had her nippy side but she still came to love others. Sadie loved the attention and great belly rubs from Grandma. She also loved to jump up onto Grandpa's recliner and they would nap together.

One of our favorite talents Sadie had was noticed one evening after work. She was in the car when I was picked up. We were driving through downtown SLC and had to wait to make our right hand turn for some fire trucks going through the intersection. As the trucks roared through with their sirens we noticed the siren continued on very loud even after they passed us. It was then that we looked down and noticed Sadie making that same exact pitch sound. It became a favorite to hear her imitate sirens as they rushed by the house when we lived near a busy intersection.

There were few occasions where we boarded her for this trip or that trip. Sometimes the pickup or drop off schedule would be such that we would have a meal or two at home without her. We always were amazed as to how messy our family was at meal time. Sadie wasn't under the table ready to pick up after us. I guess there will be more sweeping to do now!

Another favored memory from her younger days was the age-old game loved by dogs, Fetch. In her youth, Sadie loved to play fetch. Her favorite object to fetch was a tennis ball. If you've seen Sadie, you'll know that the sight of such a small dog with a tennis ball in her mouth was very funny. The ball was probably bigger than her head, but she loved to chew on and defend it. When you managed to get it again, she couldn't wait for the toss!

Several years ago she stopped trying to jump up onto the bed. Her hair began to turn whiter than light tan. Her dark eyes began to cloud and instead of jumping onto the bed she would sleep under it. More recently, she started to fall off the edge of the porch or down the short deck stairway. She always bounced back but couldn't figure out what just hit her.

Even though her last several years have been much less active, not being the same playful Sadie she once was she will be remembered for her comfort, companionship and great fuzz therapy when it was needed most.

Maybe she is back with grandpa. We doubt Grandpa is taking too many naps in a recliner so maybe Sadie is busy following him around just wanting to be around him again, in her once playful way.

It would be fitting to mention that she got “big daddy” one last time even after she has passed on. Saturday he dug her grave and as he reached, not picked up yet, her box to bring her outside his back went %#@& putting an end to his lengthy list of tasks he planned to accomplish Saturday. This also meant she got me too since none of the “honey do” list items were done either.

Sadie you will not be forgotten.