Bailey

Bailey rocking TMNT socks in 2016

R.I.P. Bailey (5/05/2012 - 1/15/2024)

Early this week, we said goodbye to another member of our furry family. Bailey was my local brother and sister-in-law’s golden retriever, but, as with Ellie, Lexi before her and Cinnamon now, he’s really a family dog.

Bailey was the epitome of the most loyal companion. He’d follow my brother to the ends of the Earth, if my brother was so inclined to travel. He enjoyed getting good pets and, if you weren’t vigilant, you might notice he’d already drooled in your lap while hoping for people food. He loved going for rides.

One of my favorite lines is the time my cousin, Megan, a veterinarian, stated, “I just want to braid Bailey’s butt hairs.” When I reminisced with her about this via text this week, she responded, “His butt hair was pretty beautiful.” LOL!

Bailey is dearly missed, especially by my brother and sister-in-law. I have a human nephew, but Bailey was my first nephew, my doggy nephew. He left this mortal coil only three-and-a-half months after Ellie. It looks like Grandpa Dick has another Heaven-side doggy companion to take walks with!

Thank you to the veterinarian who eased Bailey peacefully out of this world with my brother and sister-in-law by his side.

P.S. As my parents welcomed Cinnamon the Friday after Ellie left us, my brother, sister-in-law and nephew welcomed Gus the Friday after Bailey left (meaning today)!

Ellie

R.I.P. Ellie (4/24/2016 – 10/02/2023)

Lisa & Ellie, Early June 2016

Ellie in July 2021

Today has been a heartbreaking day. My family and I said goodbye to Ellie. She’s my parents’ golden retriever, but in reality, she’s a family dog. She loved all of us, and we all loved her. Her love for us was truly unconditional. For all intents and purposes, she was my sister, my golden-furred, four-legged sister. And yes, my mom sometimes called me Ellie! J

She’d been feeling unwell for weeks, but none of us knew the extent of how unwell she was. We learned on Wednesday of last week that she was in complete renal failure. She’d likely been sick for awhile, but hid it from us until she just couldn’t anymore. I have a sweet photo of my nephew, Liam, hugging Ellie only a few nights ago. By last night, she couldn’t hold up her own weight. My dad had to carry her into the house. I got to say goodbye this morning, but those goodbyes are always hard.

Ellie was always sassy and full of spunk. You couldn’t brush her without her thinking it was a game, barking at the brush like it was a squirrel she’d spotted. She loved playing fetch using the Chuckit!, but she really loved tennis balls in general. She loved vanilla ice cream. She loved all of us humans, but she especially loved my dad and my nephew. The rest of us were chop suey when either of them was in the room. She didn’t give hugs on the regular, so when she did, you knew she’d missed you a great deal and noticed your absence (as my childhood friend, Kristi, can confirm). We’ll miss her excited whine and her energy and her love. Surely, Lexi has already greeted her in Heaven, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Grandpa Dick has already taken a walk with both of them. We’ll all reunite again someday.

Thank you to the veterinarian who eased Ellie peacefully out of this world with my parents by her side. She lived for all of us!

Lexi

R.I.P. Lexi (6/30/2004 – 2/29/2016)

[For those that aren’t animal lovers, this little post might seem absurd.

And that’s okay if you don’t empathize. But you might want to quit reading now.]

Lexi in August 2004

What's more chill than this?

Yesterday, my family and I said good-bye to Lexi. She was very ill and was in much pain.* While four-legged and covered in fur, she was a member of our family in every sense of the word, and she certainly saw herself as a full-fledged member of the family. As with most Golden Retrievers, she was a happy, gentle-spirited dog (once past those “puppy brain” years, anyway). She was full of love. All she wanted was love in return. Also: play time, rides, good brushings and treats.

She was a huge fan of remote-controlled toys, especially cars/trucks. Even on her last day, in her last hurrah, while her movements weren’t as quick-footed, her happy barks were as yippy as a pup’s. Lexi also loved other little creatures, especially kittens (and baby bunnies, when we raised them as pets). One of my favorite pictures of her was taken with “her” kittens, which was a motherless group of four: Oreo, Linkon (a.k.a. Link), Pounce (a.k.a. Pouncey) and Petri.

Lexi was also the most caring of dogs. I fondly recall a time, years ago, when we were playing fetch (huge fan of tennis balls; she could never have enough), I ran and threw the ball. However, when I threw it, I caught the edge between the cement and the driveway and fell. Lexi would NOT retrieve the ball until I got up, and she could see that I was uninjured. What a caretaker!

Our hearts ache for our beloved family member. We miss her more than words can express or tears can show. We’ll miss her tender personality, and we’ll miss her “scolding” any of us if we walked in the door after being gone for a time she felt was too long. It didn’t matter if you lived here or not. If she thought you needed scolding, she’d give you the what-for! To our pet who’s full of pure love: We love you, we miss you, and we’ll see you on the other side.

* A great, big THANK YOU goes out to one of our local veterinarians, who enabled Lexi to leave this world peacefully. Another big round of THANK YOUs goes out to our veterinarian relatives who were but a phone call or text away with advice and answers to questions.

"His Roots Ran Deep"

Today my classmates and I said goodbye to a classmate and a friend. It's always so hard to find the right words to say to the family and close friends who are left behind after a loved one passes. My poem cannot fully convey the deepest condolences I have for the family, but I hope that anyone who reads this feels the testament of Matt's goodness and kindness and his passion for life, adventure, family and friends.

“His Roots Ran Deep”

In memory of: Matthew Donald Learn

(August 21, 1984 – January 28, 2013)

Son, Husband, Brother, Friend

His roots were not shallow, but ran deep.

They formed and grew even in his sleep.

His roots reached you, but also reached me

To build a family and friend history.

He was rooted to you from his first day;

He met the rest of us along the way.

Matt’s roots weren’t stuck in a single space.

They spread near and far from place to place.

Minnesota, the Netherlands, or Greece –

Each place another life’s puzzle piece.

Myrtle as home, Sofia as love;

Travel by ground or the sky above.

So much passion for adventure and life,

So much love for his family and wife.

My sympathies go out to you and yours –

Through air, by land, or on distant shores.

Matt’s roots ran deep, but won’t ever part,

For we ALL hold a piece of him in our hearts!

Written by: Lisa "Rutabaga" on February 13, 2013