[fanfan]

Oh Backhoe, I'm so sorry!

We had to let our 11 year old dog go last October, and it's so hard.

This poem helped me, I hope it helps you.

IF IT SHOULD BE

If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand.
Don't let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so;
The time has come -- please let me go.

Take me where my need they'll tend,
And please stay with me till the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Please do not grieve -- it must be you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years;
Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

--- Anonymous ---


(((Backhoe)))

[backhoe]

I just want to tell everybody how much their kind wishes mean to me and Miss Emily.

Mayhap we are fools, but we adopted a shelter puppy today:

Cole, the canine Circular Saw:

As Miss Emily noted:

Backhoe and I are the proud parents of a baby boy named Cole. He is a part collie puppy and so far has:

rearranged most of our throw rugs
stolen a pair of Backho’e shoes
discovered that heaters are hot
had diarrhea twice
thrown up once
scared the daylights out of our cockatiel
tried to eat my heating pad
stolen my foot massager

and he’s only been here an hour and a half.

The house is no longer too quiet.
Puppies do sleep, don’t they?????

And he steals shoes, and the mechanic's rag I habitually keep in my hip pocket...