Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. - Steve Jobs

Friday, September 2, 2011

In Loving Memory


I'm so sad to say the Mysha has left our home and passed on to a better place. After 14 years, her kidneys and liver suddenly shut down and she declined rapidly. We made the decision to release her to the big dog bone in the sky as she had stopped eating and was throwing up multiple times a day. There is a big empty hole in our home right now as she will be dearly missed.



Jake and I brought Mysha home with us in August of 1997. We were just 17 years old and had taken a road trip to Springville to stay with Jake's Aunt Teresa and find us a new puppy to bring home. The first time I met Mysha she was a tiny white poof ball. She ran in front of me, smiled, pee'd, and ran off to play with her sisters. I immedietly knew she was mine.


Mysha brought a lot of joy to our lives. She saw me through the worst times of my lives licking the tears from my face, snuggling close when I needed comfort and making me smile when I thought I had no more smiles left.




She had no interest in playing fetch or learning to sit, but she loved to race! Although she always cheated to insure her win. My favorite story of her is when we moved to the trailor. I couldn't find her one day so I called mom to see if she if she had run back home. Mom said, "I haven't seen her but let me check the front yard. No I don't........oh....whoop...whoop....oh dear!" All of this was followed by a huge crash and hysterical laughing. Once mom finally calmed herself she explained to me that as she opened the front door she saw Mysha racing up the dirt hill & heading straight for the front door. She didn't slow down until she burst through the front door & tried to hit the skids before she slammed into the back door. My baby girl loved to run.




Here are a few of her favorite things.




1. Wrestling with her kitties.




Mysha & Nikita used to play "King of the Mountain" when we stayed in the trailor. Mysha would get on top of the bed (while I was still in it) and run from corner to corner to guard Nikita from getting on the bed. Another common favorite was chasing Nikita up & down the hallways tipping over garbage cans & sliding on rugs.


Mysha & Gidget loved to wrestle too. Up until Mysha's last couple of weeks she would go over to Gidget & nudge her in the belly to start playing with her. I would also find them cuddled up together sleeping.


2. Yard work



Mysha loved nothing more then going out in the spring & doing yard work with me. She would dig holes in the dirt while I pulled weeds & planted flowers.



Her favorite day of the week was Saturday. She especially loved going out with Jake to mow the lawn. It's been hard to not have her out there with us.


3. Bed time



I can't tell you how many pictures I have of Mysha, Nikita & I all in bed together taking naps. Jake can't help himself. Up until a few years ago Mysha's nightly ritual was to jump on the bed and get 20 minutes of scratches and loves before tucking herself down by my feet.

3. Snow



As much as she loved summer days outside, she loved snow more. She loved to bury her nose in fresh powder, toss it in the air, and catch it in her mouth. That & "sun" bathing on top of the snow.

4. Her puppies



She was a great mom. She gave birth to two batches of puppies. Both births nearly cost her life as she had a bad habit of mating with bigger dogs, but she made the cutest puppies and was a very loving mom.


Her Dislikes



1. Dressing up



Oh how she hated dressing up, but I couldn't help myself. She made the cutest witch at Halloween.


2. Baths



She HATED baths. Bath and brushings.



3. Fire works: I don't have a picture, but the first time a fire work went off she literally climbed all the way up my body and tried to sit on my head.



It's been such a hard transition. I miss coming home to her, watching her spin circles to go outside, watching her play with Gidget and roll in the grass. I miss her happy smile. I really miss having my buddy outside to garden with me or lick my nose to say goodnight. But I'm grateful she's out of pain.




We will miss you baby girl.