Sweet ole Georgia is going to Doggie Heaven today. As I sit and wait for my "work-free day" to pass, I am wishing the worst part was over. 2:30 is the scheduled time. AGH! I know that later I will be too emotional to post some photos and want Georgia to be remembered in style.
Georgia, also known as "G", was Ben's dog originally, but quickly became mine. Girl to girl, we had an instant bond! As a puppy, she was skitish and very much the troublemaker. Ben says that she used to roll in the mud at the end of the work day at the marina right as Ben called her to get in the back of the truck. Clockwork roll in the mud. (I smile at the thought of her rolling around in the mud, happy as a girl can be.) When his house was bombarded with friends for happy hour or large gathering, G would hide under his house and be no where to be found. Ben would call her, throw food outside and search high and dry. No G. Hidden under the house, she would be.
Ben and I met when G was 10 years old. Brady bunch style we combined my ole Guinnie and his Georgia and Jackson. Ever since, G has been the socialite princess of the family. She was named " sweet G" by the neighborhood kids as she just lays there and waits to be loved on. When I have girl nights, G is the one that is laid out in the middle of the girls (near the food). One time I had a junior league meeting with 40+ girls here. G wandered from person to person, backing her butt to be scratched. During the meeting, she laid on the middle of the floor, as if we were roasting her then. She has been a great sport through the arrival of the boys. Many times we forgot to let her back inside and would find her sunbathing in the dirt under the rose bushes or under the back steps. " Dirty G" is daddy's nickname for her and it has stuck!
Another time, daddy forgot to close the latch on the back of the trunk. Picture this: Daddy was driving down the road while jamming to Patty Griffin or Tom Petty, going about 35 . Still driving at 35, he looks back in his rear view mirror to see this yellow lab standing (about 1/4 mile back) in the midde of a busy Mt. Pleasant 2 laned road, star struck like " what the heck?" Daddy slams on his brakes, jumps out of the car, runs back and sees Georgia standing in the middle of the road, injury free. Up, she is scooped back in the truck, and tail wagging the whole time. Sweet ole thing. She loved to sit in the back, with her chin resting on the side of the truck and have her ears blowing in the wind! Car rides were a favorite pasttime, along with long swims in the ocean and walks on the beach. On our honeymoon, G swam with us under a beautiful waterfall.
Georgia is my lady companion and I will miss herl This day has been filled with many last things for G...last swim, last feeding, last medication administration, last kiss, last hug, last wave from the boys. As I told the boys this am, many people would say that they don't understand, but as I told them to say goodbye to G, they waved to her as if they knew. I know you can feel the tears as I write. It will be a long day but at the end, we know that she will be fed and resting well in doggie heaven. I am glad that her cancer will be gone. She will live forever in our hearts. We love you, G!!!
Georgia was a "big girl". She loved her foods. When the Brady Bunch family first got together, she snapped at Guinnie with a bite as frisky Guinnie tried to take her food. Thankfully, her message was understood and no more attacks occurred.
She loved to sit on the porch. Whenever she hears the chime of the door from our alarm system, she scurries to the front door, not wanting to miss out on the action!
See how gentle she was with the boys. This was Tuesday night during our date night with Noelle.
It is no wonder that T and T can say "Georg-uh" so easily. They loved her!!!
Dinnertime! The boys love to throw their leftovers to the dogs. As you can see, Georgia knew where the "good stuff" came from.
Sweet ole G and her precious smile, despite the tumor, which had extended from skin cancer into her nasal and oral cavities.
I love that dog. See her smiling as she got ready for a car ride. She loved the car. Daddy would spoil his little princess by putting a dog bed in the back for her.
Georgia relaxing in the truck.
In conclusion, I am happy to report that we are ok since Georgia's exit to doggie heaven. It was hard and sad, but I am very thankful for her presence in my life. Poor Ben could not even enter the vet office as he tried to fight back the tears. I thank my medical career for giving me the strengthen to be with her. I guess I am used to the lingo, knew the drill and asked all the questions upfront so I knew what to expect. I held her tight, spoke sweet melodies to her, as I felt her heart stop. Her head gently fell on my leg and I saw a peace in her that I have not seen in a long time. She looked happy, content and well. Friends, I swear I felt the cancer leave her body as she transitioned to a doggier heaven with mountains of gravy stained biscuits, cats to chase and big ole green pastures for sunbathing that overlook a large lake for swimming.
Thank goodness for sweet ole dogs like G and for doggie heavens! Love you, Georgia! Love you so much, my "baby girl".
Emily and Turner reading a book after bathtime!
