My beloved Julie/Jewel
Box/Puddles/Miss Montrose
For nine years we had to see you in “shifts” because you and Tina were furious combatants whenever you confronted one another face-to-face. It was a difficult arrangement to carry off in a small 4 room apartment; but we did it because Bill and I both loved you and Tina enough to handle the inconvenience. We’d gladly have endured it another dozen years.
You made the most of every shift. It was your bright little face and eager energetic greeting that met me every day when I returned from work. No matter how unpleasant the day just passed had been I loved opening the door into your joyous tumult. Because you were abandoned as a young puppy and suffered distemper your start in life was not ideal. But I’ll always remember that early autumn day when I waited to cross the busy street and spied you a pretty peppy off-white little puppy following a soldier who stopped to pet you.
I asked if you belonged to him he said no and without hesitation I picked you up. You grinned licked my face and that was that. Your periodic health troubles were conquered not so much by the skill of Dr. Avram but by your fierce will to survive your joy in life. We knew your sudden illness on 18 May could not be overcome. When we arrived at the clinic both of us covered with blood excretion and tears Dr. Avram’s grave remarks surprised neither of us.
You were sprawled out on the examining table when you gave me your last look of recognition – a look of love regret utter acceptance of your imminent death but concern for me. Easy enough to clean the floor and my clothes of the residue from your poor little body. But I am finding it hard to stop the tears because I miss you desperately.
No one who had such a beautiful spirited loving animal as I could doubt for a second the survival of your souls. I know you are elsewhere – but that you are and I hope you will meet me when my own time comes.
My little Julia:
thank you for nearly ten years
of love and joy.
Ellen