REMEMBERING LILY

As some of you already know, we made the heartbreaking decision to put our Lily down on Saturday. For the first time in more than twenty years, we have only one dog in the house. I have cried buckets.

Our Lil was fourteen, a good old age for a lab. That didn't make it any easier. She was growing a bit more frail each day, but she did still have a lab appetite,  so she spent the last few minutes of her life, scarfing all the biscuits she could eat. A full belly and your Mom and Dad stroking you, and telling you how wonderful you are, as you gently drift to sleep, is not a bad way to go.
Having made the appointment for Saturday, I wanted to make Friday a very special day. Lily had a bath, lots of time outside in the warm sunshine, and a trip to Dairy Queen for ice cream.

She came to us at eight weeks, a little field trial lab, from the lower shore. She was more highly strung than a typical lab. She had her own set of rules and we adored her.

Here are Lily's lessons learned and rules for living:

1. Be happy every day.
2. Greet everyone with the same level of enthusiasm.
3. Play VERY GENTLY with chickens.
4. Always position yourself under the feet of the youngest guest at holiday dinners.
5. When the cat comes in the room, leave.
6. Repairmen need your help (and tennis balls).
7. Baby gates are for babies. When you are young jump over. When you are old, knock them down.
8. The only safe place to sit in a kayak, is your Daddy's lap.
9. Cat food tastes better if you eat the whole bag.
10. Don't leave your paw print in the candy that's cooling on the kitchen counter. They'll know who licked the chocolate off.
11. When someone leaves a gate open, run for the river.
12. Tremble when they cut your toenails. They'll give you cheese.
13. If you absolutely must get their attention when company comes, pee next to one of their guests.
14. Don't chew up twenty dollar bills.
15. You're never too old to play in the snow.

Rest in peace, my Sweet Baby Lil...

Jan. 1998-March 24, 2012