This was supposed to be my thoughts on the Massachusetts State Primary election last Tuesday and my experience as a precinct Warden. I promise to try to get that written. The Universe had other plans for Casa Brillig this weekend, and much like a diary I wrote almost three years ago, it involves the bestest gooddog ever (because aren’t they ALL the bestest gooddogs ever?) and a Bridge. It’s not meant to be a sad diary though, because through the tears is so much joy of a life well-lived. However, if the topic makes you sad, scroll below the fold and go directly to three days of Tops!
We brought a small, almost 12 week old puppy home from the shelter in October 2008. Our prior pup Brillig had died a year earlier, and we knew we were ready for another dog after he appeared to K1 in her dreams and told her so. The adorable “Plott Hound Mix” pup’s shelter name was Vivian and so we renamed her after the Vorpal sword in our favorite family poem, Jabberwocky. She and her sister had been abandoned at the side of a busy Virginia highway and as a result she was terrified of traffic — so much so that in the early weeks, we had to CARRY her around the block to a quieter side street before she would walk or potty. She stayed anxious her entire life, startling at cars, things on the sidewalk, leaves, and odd noises. She LOVED people but was terrified if they moved or spoke to abruptly. We explained to people that she wasn’t having a seizure; rather, she was a scared-of-the-world pup literally quaking in her feets and if they just gave her a minute she’d come up for a sniff and a polite head pat. Thunderstorms were the bane of her existence, she hid in dark corners body shaking and teeth chattering whenever one passed through. Today we’d have owned stock in a CBD-for-pets franchise but back then we didn’t have that option.
In July 2012 just shy of Vorpal’s fourth birthday we decided it was time to rescue another dog and thus Snicker, an 18mo Redbone Coonhound from South Carolina joined Casa Brillig. Snicker truly was Vorpal’s emotional support dog, and taught her that the world wasn’t so scary if you just had your Pack with you. They were inseparable, sharing water bowls, beds, and even though they looked NOTHING alike people would ask if they were related. Sisters, we told them, because they were.
Alas, in November 2019 Snicker left for Rainbow Bridge far earlier than we ever thought possible, and we all mourned her loss (If you ever wondered if dogs remember, several months after Snicker left us, we mentioned her name in front of Vorpal. Vorp’s tail began wagging and she looked all over for her while we cried the tears of 1000 chopped onions.). Eventually, though, life settled into a one-dog routine just as the pandemic hit. While we weren’t ready to welcome another pup into our house just then, it became impossible as shelters (in our area, at least) closed their doors to potential adopters for almost a year.
By this point Vorpal was 11 years old, face whitened but her brindle fur still shedding everywhere. Everywhere. K1 said yesterday as we reminisced about our goodgirl that we’ll still be finding bits of Vorpal floof for the next decade or so, and that even away at University, clothing that had Never Ever Been Home often wore bits of Vorpal fur.
Fast forward to this past January, after K2 had been asking repeatedly if we could get a second pup and a photo on our local shelter’s Adoptable Pets page caught our eye. Mr. Brillig said “let’s inquire”. And so on January 28th Vorpal hopped into our car never knowing she was about to help us decide whether a new pup was right for us. The first pup we met didn’t click with her, but Milton… oh, they were compatible right away! Rechristened Simba by K2 before we ever got back to the car, Vorpal made clear that no matter how much puppy energy he had SHE was alpha and in charge. Simba, to his credit, believed her and even when he grew far bigger than his big sister (as of today he’s 90+ lbs whereas Vorpal was ~45lbs all of her adult life) he was deferential.
At Vorpal’s annual exam last June, we learned she wasn’t as healthy as she appeared. There were, an ultrasound showed, masses in her liver. We couldn’t be sure how long they’d been there but removing them would have been dangerous at worst and destroyed her quality of life at ‘best’. So we approached this as we did with Snicker’s cancer — make sure every day ever was designed to help her live her very best life. And she did! On Saturday morning she woke us at 6am barking, had breakfast, and when a neighbor dog came over for a playdate with Simba at 11 she demanded to go out and race around the yard showing those young, big dogs who was boss. But several hours later she went to K1’s room (her safe space and where she slept even when K1 was at school) and couldn’t lay down without yelping in pain. The nearby vet hospital agreed to see her and quickly determined one of the masses had burst and her abdomen was filled with fluid. It was time.
We went on one last sniffy walk outside, where she soaked up all the smells from every single blade of grass available. We returned inside to a room filled with couches and treats, and indulged her in about 20 Hershey Kisses (she was a chocoholic!). And then surrounded by her family, she fell asleep one last time. The house feels strangely quiet, and our hearts broke Saturday night when we fed Simba, and as Mr. Brillig gave the ‘release’ command to start eating, Simba glanced over to Vorpal’s spot because she ALWAYS got released first.
If you’ve got fur family, give them extra scritches for me. Hug your human family too, or give scritches… I won’t judge. Don’t ever take the days for granted, and show those you love that you do.
Over the fold are Top Mojo, Pictures and Comments that have been waiting for you all weekend!
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TOP COMMENTS
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We had one comment nomination this weekend, from sharondonovan:
Bethann, in her comment on Walter Einenkel’s Ari Fleischer gets job with Saudi LIV Golf, retires his annual 9/11 commemorative tweets, broke it down to the main crime points that seem like they should be conspiracy stuff, but are just the facts, ma’am.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday (Sunday), September 11 2022, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Mojo for September 10 2022, aka Top Mojo for Saturday:
Top Mojo for September 9 2022, aka Top Mojo for Friday:
TOP PICTURES
Top Pictures for yesterday (Sunday), September 11 2022. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you to the wonderful dKos staff who made it possible to continue this feature in memory of jotter!
Top Pictures for September 10 2022, aka Top Pictures for Saturday:
Top Pictures for September 9 2022, aka Top Pictures for Friday: