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Sheltie Angels Page Thirty-Nine
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Oh, My Darlin' Clementine |
When I named Clementine, I could not get the fear out of my mind that her song "Oh My Darlin', Clementine" would come true... that she would somehow be lost and gone forever. Well, when Amy and I were at a conference in Phoenix, she and Winston got out of the yard and she was gone. Winston waited on the porch, but Clementine left. We flew home early from Phoenix and upon arriving in Abilene at 11:00 p.m. I began walking the streets looking for her. That was Friday. She was nowhere to be found. Amy and I drove all over our part of Abilene looking for and listening for a glimpse or a bark, but there were none. I went to Kinko's the next morning and had fliers made up with her picture in color so anyone would recognize her if they had seen her. I went to business after business asking if they would put one in their window. Looking back, I am amazed how many actually allowed me to put them up in their stores. I remember going into a Skinny's (like a 7-11) and the girl behind the counter said it would be OK. I remember thinking she or the manager would take it down after I left, but they didn't. On Sunday night we received a call from someone who said, "I think we have your dog." They had seen the flier in the Skinny's. I had offered a large reward and I know that is why they called, but I want to think they just wanted to get my dog back to me. Amy and I took off to their house. Clementine had gone across four of the busiest streets in Abilene and made it safely. When we got her, I was a few dollars short ($50 or $60, I am not sure) for the reward, and I told them I would bring it by the next day. I thought they would say not to worry about it but they didn't, so I took it by the next day. It felt great. Both Winston and Clementine were home, and we had proven the songwriter wrong. That is until last night. Clementine, over the last 4-5 months, had slowly been leaving us a little bit at a time. We had friends over Sunday night for burgers, and she never moved. She still had been following us from room to room, even if we had to help her off of the wood floors. She still wanted to be in the same room as we were. For the last five days she had not eaten anything, and I knew it was a matter of time, nothing more... just time. Amy and I had been feeding her scrambled eggs, canned chicken breast, hamburger meat, canned dog food, ice cream, peanut butter sandwiches, cereal, cheese, rice, and chips trying to give her a little more time. I stayed home with her yesterday and we talked about the things we had done together... places we had been, and times she, Winston, and I had been out to the Club. You see, she and Winston were best of friends, and I really think she began dying the day he did, three years ago. Amy and I watched the Rangers' game last night with her on the floor beside Amy. I went to bed at 10:00 and prayed that God would take her last night so I would not have to make the decision I had been fighting for weeks. I can't remember what I was dreaming about as I seldom remember dreaming at all, when Amy awakened me around 12:30 this morning. She said she had been up with her for an hour and that it was time... that same thing we were trying to give her more of was upon us... it was now time... I was angry that Amy had that precious time with her and I did not. I sat down beside her and rubbed her back and cried. She was now in pain as Amy had said... it was now time. So, last night around 1:30 I made that horrific decision and Clementine had finally fulfilled the words of the songwriter as she was now "lost and gone forever, oh my darlin' Clementine." H. Allen Botkin |
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"Cayman" September 14, 1997 - June 13, 2009
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 Cayman was my first
and only dog. A Christmas puppy in 1997 from my partner, Michael,
shortly after I graduated from college as a clinical social worker.
My partner struggled with alcoholism that left me feeling lonely. He
blessed me with Cayman. A sable
sheltie
who had been shipped to Anchorage from a puppy mill in Missouri who
was barely six weeks old, had huge eyes and was nearly bald. With
love, his coat blossomed and he grew to be a strong, handsome and
magnificent being. Little did I know the effect he would have on my
life or the lives of so many.
In his first year, Cayman would go
with me to visit patients in adult daycare centers who were too
depressed or demented to speak.
Cayman was and
will always be my beautiful Prince, master teacher, play mate, and
noble protector. He changed my life. Life will never be the same,
and for now, I am feeling very lost without him by my side. Like
him, I must muster the strength to move forward and to find joy even
in this pain just like he did. For nine months he was a gallant
fighter through nasal cancer. No pain could keep him from doing
joyful spins and chasing his favorite sticks in our field of green
clover and daisies. We played up until the day before his tumor
erupted. His suffering ended within a few hours. His little body
was put to rest in my arms so his beautiful spirit could make way
for the Rainbow Bridge. One week later, a rainbow appeared in the
sky. Your Guardian Mom |
He would jump on their laps and give
them kisses to make them smile. Some centers made special 
and to enjoy the moment.
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U-CDX Starhaven's
Megan, CDX February 5, 1995 - June 14, 2009 |
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"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." ~Dr. Seuss Loved and missed by Garry and Diane Bartlett |
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"Gertie" August 7, 1994 - August 4, 2009 |
