It’s been such a long time since I’ve written in this blog, but my daughter having started her own blog, and the following story have prompted me to start writing again.

Crumb!!!!  Last evening about 5 o’clock our neighbor’s daughter came over looking for Buddy.  He somehow had gotten out of his yard and was GONE!  Was the gate open?  Did he jump over the fence?  Did someone steal him?  Buddy is such a darn wonderful, loving dog; I’m sure many people who know him just from passing on the other side of the fence would love to have him.  I know I would love to have him!

The neighbors walked around looking for him and by the time  I got my boots and warm jacket on and went out, they were going to drive around in the car.  I walked and walked and called and whistled and soon began to cry.  The more I walked the more tears came down; soon I was actually sobbing.  I met a young lady walking two dogs, and because of my obvious tears felt I needed to explain.  She said she’d watch for Buddy.

The more  I cried, the more I had the thought of really losing my “Buddy next door”.  What would it be like?  How would it be if someone stole him?  Finally, about 2 blocks away from home, Glen drove up and called me…..”We’ve got him”!  I stopped, covered my eyes, and then jumped in the backseat with my pal.  He covered me with kisses as though I was the one who had been lost. A nice lady several blocks away had called to say she had him and was found scratching his tummy when they went to pick him up.

What a night——–harrowing, to say the least.  THANK YOU SAINT ANTHONY!!!

Well, 2 weeks ago today, on June 28, 2008, I took him across the street to play after which time I brought him back to my house for water.  It was hot out!  Buddy pulled and tugged to get across the street all the while with the ball in mouth.  I figured it was “only across the street” and the in-mouth ball wouldn’t be a problem.  Right?  WRONG!!  As we rounded the back corner of the house he let the ball fly (right PAST the water bucket, I might add) and I flew with him—–on my knee —on the concrete!  Result?  Broken left kneecap.  As of tomorrow, I’ll have been in a brace and on crutches for two weeks; AND in one more week we will be on our first cruise to ALASKA!

Still love the dog and can’t wait to play again in the field.  This playing over the fence just doesn’t do it……we worry about the GRASS!

When the snow was mountainous, his shoulders were over the top of the fence.

“Throw the ball over”!

Sometimes he can’t find the tennis ball and this happens……he tries to put the “holey” rubber ball ¨through the fence”!!!!

Soooooo, we play with THAT ball!

I should have STARTED with the ball game and we might have had a good walk! Buddy, Buddy.

She’s actually somewhat of a princess and to prove it will sit facing you holding her paw up in a manner as if to delicately shake your hand; but in reality she just wants you to hold hers or rub her paw and leg. She just wants you to know that she’s there “for you”! And if you stand up, she will put her head between your legs and expect you to pet her back or ears. Spoiled? Not Charlie! She also sleeps in bed with you and when Grandpa and Grandma have her in our “queen” sized bed, SHE is the QUEEN demanding all the room. But somehow, we allow it!

“Charlie Girl” is a well trained puppy dog. Her family, especially her “mom” spent much time teaching Charlie to be a dog that everyone loves. She doesn’t beg for food, (loving is another matter), won’t put her paws on tables or counters, won’t steal food or clothes,etc., doesn’t run away, comes when called, (unless there is something REALLY interesting), can be trusted when food is within smelling or reaching distance, etc., etc. Even in the car, you can eat juicy Burgers and she doesn’t salivate! Wow! For junkfood junkies, that’s great! She also doesn’t bark unless she is alerting you to a real problem…like a scary noise in the yard at night.

Charlie, like her cousin Jessie, loves to go up North….with or without her immediate family. She loves to swim and has been taught to not jump off the pier (to save her hips). She does love to hunt chippies, squirrels, and any other animal that leaves a scent; but will always come back when called. Sometimes she does go through the swamp coming back looking like “a mud puppy” like her predecessor “Hickory” always did.

Being almost 4 years old, Charlie is the same age as “Finley” of whom you will hear next. The two of them met when they were just a couple months old; played then, and continue to recognize each other and play heartily when they meet. I really think they developed a bond at a young age and respect each other yet.

But back to Charlie……Her mom and dad have recently asked the “other grandparents” to sit for the first time. Unfortunately, that went so well, and the other grandparents loved her soooooo much that now we’re not “number one” anymore. Charlie loves them as much as she loves us as much as she loves anybody and I guess that’s the way it should be. Darn! Actually, Charlie has enough love for all of us, and more!

Grandma Peg loves you, too, Charlie!

Grandma loves to brush Jessie because with the piles of hair I get off of her, I know that I’ve done something! And I can keep on brushing and continue to get more hair off of her; it never ends. But Jessie loves the attention and also enjoys an occasional massage. Unfortunately, Jessie Pup is really in the golden age of her life. At 13 1/2 years old she is showing signs of age—having trouble going up stairs, can’t jump as she used to, is getting thin and her lumps are getting bigger or at least are more obvious. John says that she must be having vision trouble as well, as she doesn’t necessarily see even a treat if you hold it in front of her; she has to smell it or search for it.

John is trying to talk himself out of another dog when the time comes; but if he can’t convince himself, he’d get another black lab for fear that Kathy would come up with a “wanna be” dog. He loves the love Jessie gives, the pretty eyes and facial expression, and the beautiful shiny coat. I wonder how long he’d be able to be without a pup at his feet in his office!

I haven’t seen our nextdoor neighbor puppy for a few days now and am hoping that he was just away for the weekend. “Buddy” is really still a puppy at about 15 months old, but he is quite large already being a mix between a golden retriever and a yellow lab. He looks mostly like a lab and when he comes bounding to the wooden fence to see us, you’d swear he was going to knock the fence down! Bamm!!

Unfortunately, Buddy doesn’t get much play time or “go for a walk time”, and walks around his yard or just sits there watching whatever he is able to see over the fence. That breaks my heart —-’cause when he sees Jack or me in our family room he comes up to the fence, stands up, and with those “puppy dog eyes” stares at us sadly. “Aren’t you coming out to play?” Often times we wave to him through the window or I will open the window and talk to him.

Many times though, if the snow isn’t too deep, I will go to the fence and he immediately searches for a ball, his favorite plaything. He will even drop a treat I give him if he can get the ball. He will retrieve the ball forever until I tell him: ” I have to go now, see you later”! Then he again stares at me from across his yard with the ball in his mouth and again I see those “sad puppy dog eyes”. I taught him to “toss the ball over” the fence so I don’t have to fight him for it. That works great except that he slobbers the ball like crazy trying to “throw it over”.

He’s a neat dog, needs and loves attention…..sure hope he still lives there.

Janurary 22, 2008

The weather today started out as -7 degrees (the day for the Packer playoff game before the Superbowl.) And two weeks ago, it rained and rained and rained. As a result we didn’t process to the Cemetery; it would’ve been difficult for the elderly in attendance.

The Funeral Mass was beautiful: John Michl played guitar and sang along with Kim Peck–a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice from his parish of St. James in Sussex. The music included “Be Not Afraid”, “Ave Maria”, “How Great Thou Art”, Here I Am Lord, and Songs of the Angels” among others. Many, many people commented on the music.

Sister Margaret Bosch and Rosemary Hetzel did the readings, and Sister Maureen Hopkins distributed the Holy Bread, while Jack and Peg distributed the cups. Fr. Mike Burns was the celebrant and had a beautiful homily.

Euologies were presented by Kevin Eggert —who read the one written by David Gasperetti, Karen Eggert, and Ally Eggert. All in all, it was a beautiful funeral Mass for Phyllis. Many people attended—family, friends, and new friends at St. Anne’s.

From St. Anne’s we went to Alioto’s Restaurant for a wonderful buffet of baked chicken, tenderloin tips on noodles, mashed potatoes, all the fixings, and dessert. I think Phyllis would have been happy with this day.

Schmidt/Bartelt were the undertakers and very much appreciated; the flowers came from Alpha Flower Shop on North Ave. and were gorgeous. After the lunch, Debbie and I went back to the apartment and made boquets of flowers (all roses) and put them at various residents’ apartments. What a fun thing to do with an excess of beautiful flowers.

Now it’s all over. Sometimes hard to believe that Auntie has left us. But on the other hand I often look upward and say: “What do you think, now, Auntie? Is it as wonderful as we said it would be? Then I can only smile.

Thanks for the blessings you afforded us, Auntie. You were greatly loved and will always be remembered with fondness.