It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything.  I’ve had the flu, been busy with the day job, the kids and generally feeling really burnt out.  Such is life.  But I thought I should give a little tribute to Davey, my 14 year old best buddy who recently went on to doggie heaven on October 28th.   He was a Border Collie/Lab/I’m not sure what else mix – but whatever he was made up of, it was all good!  But, come to think of it, Davey hadn’t always been that “good”.

Dave had been used to being with his buddy Harley when he came into my home.  He was originally my brother’s dog.- named after Harley-Davidson.  After my brother moved into an apartment that didn’t allow pets, my parents wound up with Harley and I got Davidson.  Breaking up Harley and Davidson didn’t work out so well.  Dave would have a nervous breakdown if left in the house alone and would chew everything that wasn’t glued to the ceiling.  We tried kiddie gates; he ate through them.  We tried folding doors to keep him in one room; he ate through the door.  We tied him up in the basement to a 50 lbs weight; he drug that across the floor like it was nothing and ate through a wall!  We tried crating him but he looked so pitiful inside it – we took the crate back the same day we got it.  The only thing that worked was calling in the “enforcer” – a dalmatian named Minnie!  She calmed him down quick, with her dominant personality!  After the “Minnie treatment” – Davey was gentle, well-behaved and never caused another problem.  Minnie on the other hand…well…she’s hopeless!

It was hard watching Dave go.  His big heart finally gave out on him.  He’d been going downhill for a couple of months. He collapsed near the back door as I was letting him outside, and I though it was hard to watch, and I cried for days afterwards, I was glad I was with him till he took his last breath.

I found a video on YouTube of Shannon by Henry Gross.  I remember it from the 70′s;  when I found out it was about a dog that drowned out at sea, I cried my eyes out every time I heard it!  I also remember my mom crying and though they wouldn’t admit it, I recall my older brothers were misty-eyed too!  My mom and I didn’t really share the same musical interest, and other than an Air Supply song, this is the only one I remember listening to with her – so it’s doubly special!

Here’s to you Dave!  And Mom!

Davey 1994-2008