Sweet Sadie Doo, Part 2

It's been a few days now and the crying fits are getting better. We still miss her and her absence has left quite a hole in the entire household. But there is comfort knowing she is no longer in pain. There has been a shift in the pack mentality, mainly seen between the two young, large dogs. I think her presence, especially during feeding times, kept some kind of order. But we are confident that things will even out soon.

I have always felt that nothing happens without a reason. Sadie Doo came to me at the beginning of a very tumultuous time in my life. I had just moved out, had a hard time making friends, was in a crappy relationship (one of many) and suffered from major depression. I had a lot of suicidal feelings that first year and other than one attempt, never tried to do it because I was worried about what would happen to her. She was also my security blanket. I never went anywhere without her, even small trips to the store for food. It got to the point where if she saw an open suitcase, she would sit inside of it because she was determined not to be left behind.

Later in life, she moved with me as I moved in with a man and his daughter, and later married this man. The relationship had it's ups and downs and then more frequently it was down. When I left him, Sadie jumped into the moving van, riding shotgun, the whole way to Kansas. I had to put her on puppy prozac because my one week absence (I was away to figure things out and make arrangements)gave her severe anxiety. During this marriage she was there for me while I went through my cancer scares and mastectomy, college, graduate school, several trips home back to ND and other fun trips. But it was during the dissolution of the marriage that her presence was the most comforting.



For our family holiday photo in 2006.



Always one to give kisses.



We continued our tradition of visiting parks.





She was my workout buddy and even in a cold December, we were out walking.



Our pack grew and she wasn't always happy about that. But there were moments when something like a pile of feathers united them all. Unfortunately these other dogs, my other babies, weren't so lucky. They stayed with my ex and through either neglect or deliberate and vicious acts, died not long after I moved.



Christmas was always her favorite time as she always got her own presents and enjoyed unwrapping them. She also unwrapped everyone else's presents.







Winter was her favorite season. She made the snow more fun.

When we moved, life changed dramatically. All the tension, stress and fear left us both and we were finally able to rest.



Relaxing





Lots of cuddle time



After a walk in the rain. We still have this toy but it stopped making elephant noises.



Once in a while, Ron's ex's dogs stayed with us.



I had a second chance at life, at happiness. I cherished every day, especially during that first year in my "new life." And Sadie was there for every step. Here she gets to clean out the empty peanut butter jar.



We spent a lot of time thinking, working through things.





She loved Ron. He was calm, happy and loving to her, as well as to me. Her behavior became more mellow during this time.



And then Patton came! This was taken just days after his adoption, right after we recaptured them after they chased a small herd of deer outside the townhouse. Patton was the only dog she didn't growl and lunge at. His calm temperament further mellowed her out.



Buddies



We moved that year and soon after the start of all my health diagnoses started.





Shortly after my first endometriosis surgery, these two kept my spirits up.



She loved the water and took to this boat right away. She jumped right in!



I'm posting this because this is the spot in our house where Ron proposed to me, and Sadie and Patton were all over him while he was on his knee. I'll never forget that.



Here she is, defending herself after I found a wounded stuffed animal. It really was Patton who did it, but I thought for sure she was guilty at first.



Ack! Caterpillar!




Face wash.







And that takes us up through 2007.

I think I'll end Part 2 here. I just got the call that her ashes are back. *sigh* Thanks again for all the comments and good thoughts.