Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Rest in Peace, Tina

For those of you who are not already aware, Sparkey's little "sister" Tina left this world on Friday, September 21st, the last day of summer.

Tina was getting weaker and weaker, often unable to walk or stand, and needing our constant companionship and vigilance in her final week of life. She gave us very clear signals that it was time for her to take her leave of us, and even so it was--and is--very painful to let her go.

Since Facebook is now the communication tool of choice among our friends, family and brethren, we have created a memorial Facebook page for Tina so that she can be remembered and memorialized in proper digital fashion. Feel free to pay a visit. There are stories, photos, videos, remembrances, and all good things related to our wonderful little girl who lived such a long and happy life.

We hope that Sparkey and Tina are now reunited--along with many of their other spirit friends--and that they fully enjoy the freedom from their physical bodies that eventually were more burdensome than comfortable.

While we are happy for their release, we're left here with our heavy hearts, continuing our time on this mortal coil until we too can join them.

We love you, Tina!





Sunday, September 02, 2012

Six Years



Well folks, today marks six years since Sparkey left this world. The above photo, which I don't think has ever been featured here on Latter Day Sparks, shows a plaque made by my Keith's father, Gene Carlson. The ersatz "boxing gloves" are two of the four booties that Sparkey wore on his feet in his final days in order to protect his nails and paws from his dragging gait. (Rene corrected us that Sparkey was actually born in 1993, not 1992--but who's counting!)


Meanwhile, Tina plods along towards her 18th birthday on April 1st, 2013, and we're amazed that she's survived Sparkey for so very many years. We imagine Sparkey visits her in her dreams from time to time, and will some day guide her over the bridge to her forever home.

The photo of Tina was taken this summer as Keith held the old girl in his arms. Already accepted into a dog photo contest, Tina just might make the cut to be one of the canines whose mug will be on a 2013 Santa Fe dog calendar. We'll keep you posted on that--and on Tina's Facebook page that's now in the works.

We miss our boy, and we allow other dogs in our lives to remind us of good old Sparkey--like Barney, Tina's three-year-old boyfriend.


Long live Sparkey D. Dog. We salute his spirit today and every day!