When we first brought her into our home, I sort of thought of her as Syd's dog. Syd was aging and we wanted him to train our next dog. As a bonus, having a new girlfriend seemed to put the hop back in Syd's step. So they went together…like Paul Simon & Edie Brickell. When Syd died back in June of 2013, Maxine represented a part of him that remained. Now with Maxine gone, it feels like the end of an era.
Not to mention this is the first time in 15 years together that K & I have been without a dog. K looks empty-handed on our walks. There is a big void in our house…someone is missing. While I started out seeing her as Syd's dog, she quickly moved into the beloved family dog spot.
We will miss her crazy sounds, the way she let you, nay insist you pet her nonstop. If you dared to stop, she would nudge you, lick you, lean into you, whatever she needed to do to keep those hands of yours petting. She had the silkiest ears of any dog I've known. They always looked like pigtails to me. I will miss stroking those. We will miss her daintiness, how she'd lay elegantly with her front paws crossed, looking so regal. We will even miss how she'd wander into the baby's room when we'd leave the house and help herself to any number of stuffed animals, leaving a trail throughout the house. (Remarkably, she would rarely damage any of them.)
Our youngest child, R, loved her so much. "Dog," or "daw" as he says it, was one of his first words. He'd often wander over to her and gently lean into her, putting his head ever so carefully on her body. He loved giving her treats and holding her toys and giving her little pushes from behind. He'd crawl on her bed whenever he got the chance and just lay there.
We will miss you dearly, Maxine the Wonderdog. Thanks for being part of our family. Have fun with Sydney, romping in heaven. He was your best pal of all. Rest in peace.
Maxine The Wonderdog
(July 2005-February 10, 2016)
