Little Stella Portabella, you were the delight of my heart. Did you know you came to me in a dream? How many other mommies can say they have a dream-baby? I dreamed Jerry Garcia was back alive and the Grateful Dead were having the reunion concert above all concerts. We dressed up, jammed, and came home to find a puppy in a sand pail on the doorstep. She was brilliant blue with a pink face like a strawberry in the dream, but I had a little trouble finding a puppy like that. The Grateful Dead fairy left you for me!! You always were a delightful free spirit.
After the dream, I knew I had to find you. I knew your name already: Stella Portabella. How many pups can say they have a middle name, especially one as classy as Portabella? It was on all of your collars and I made sure no one forgot it.
Then I found you… only a few weeks later! I got you on Easter, met your beautiful green eyes in the kennels at Puppy Lifeline. You looked like an orange teddy bear. From the minute I cuddled you my heart was complete. My first dog, my beloved baby, perfect in every way.
You ate a tube of red glitter, a retainer, soccer shinguards, a million socks and pairs of underwear and the whole time I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Who was I to deserve such a beautiful, adoring, perfect dog?
No one knew what your parents looked like. Puppy Lifeline said you came from a little shelter in New Mexico. I would take you on walks and people would say, “Oh, she’s so beautiful! What kind of a dog is she?” and I would say ‘I don’t know, but she is wonderful.” You were small and orange and looked like a fox and jumped like a kangaroo and kissed and kissed and kissed. I would take you in the car and let you have ice cream from McDonald’s, let you ride around with your chin on my knee everywhere. All you wanted to do was be close to me. Those days, driving in the sunshine with my baby next to me, were the happiest times I’ve ever had.
Your complete joy and love was a balm to my heart. My sweet baby, you loved me with your whole heart and I loved you back. Now you are in heaven and my heart is broken in two. My beautiful baby, someday I want to see you come flying towards me with your ears back and your big fan-tail flying and jump into my arms and kiss me and let me scratch your tummy and I won’t ever be separated from you again. I miss you so much, Stell.
Shanna loves Stella!
| Stella Portabella |
| 1, Dec 2007 |
| Shanna Shadoan |