This past Saturday, I lost my beloved dog Ash-Lee. She was a companion to my Wife and I for 15 years. She gave us everything a little dog could. Her loss leaves a big void in our lives. We are very sad.
15 years ago my Wife and I purchased a baby Shih-Tzu from a farm nearby and named her Ash-Lee. The "Ash" was for the ashen color in her fur. The "Lee" is named after the Chinese word for "Beautiful Plum."
Ash-Lee was gentile, loving, smart, funny, perky, inquisitive and many times surprising. She had many endearing habits and traits. She loved Mozart Piano Concertos. When we played that in the living room she'd come and sit near the speakers and nap. However, she totally disliked my favorite music: Alternative Rock. If I put the Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Foster The People, Awolnation or any other band on....she bolted from the room. She memorized the Windows XP sounds. When the starting sound came on, she'd come in and sit next to me at the computer. When the closing tones came on, she'd leave the room.
Ash-Lee and I took long walks every day and greeted everyone in the neighborhood. Today, as word spread of her loss, many of our neighbors came over to express their condolences to us. This made us feel a little better.
I'm incredibly sad writing this diary. It doesn't even begin to express how much she meant to my Wife and I. Ash-Lee, we'll miss you terribly....and we'll remember you for the rest of our lives.
7:10 AM PT: UPDATE: Thanks to all for putting this on the Recommended list. Here is another favorite picture of Ash-Lee on my wife's slipper.