Memorial Day

On Saturday, Steve and I took a trip to Fielding, UT for a little BBQ/Weenie Roast with my Dad. Janie and Kay and Cortney and Erin and the kids all met us there too. We had the greatest day ever! We talked and laughed and enjoyed the day. We also went to the cemetery to put some flowers on Grandma and Grandpa Moss's grave. I watched as my Dad loving took a bucket and scrub brush and cleaned it off. It touched me and taught me. In the previous post there is a picture of him cleaning it. Because of his great example, Steve and I left on Sunday after church to Tooele to put some flowers on his parents' headstones and to clean it off as well. It was a beautiful day and I felt close to them as we paid our respect. I was touched by Steve's careful attention. I miss them a lot and can only imagine Steve's sadness at times. It is a very beautiful stone. The Cemetery was alive with people and flowers. The colors were so vibrant. I also learned something I didn't know. People use the same flowers over and over each year. At the end of the Memorial Day week they return to the Cemetery to pick up the flowers before the caretaker has to throw them away. Huh! Didn't know that!

Reminders of the Past

Seeing things from your past sure does bring a flood of memories. Take a look at the pink bowl on the table and the pink tin cup on the counter. These two items take me back to my childhood at my Grandma Moss's house. She used the bowl and the cup for many, many years and true to form, my Dad still uses them today. I sat at this table many times as a young girl having a Sunday family dinner. I would sit in a high chair that they took the tray off of and scooted me up to the table. Even though I was too big for it, it was my chair until Penny came along. My Grandma's Pink and Black kitchen will be forever etched in my mind. I wish I could take my own kids back with me to experience it themselves. I wonder what old things of mine will still be in use by my grandchildren when I am long gone?

Gussy, Rest in Peace - April 2001 - May 2010

Even as I post this after several weeks have gone by, my heart aches. Unless you are a "dog" person, you wouldn't get it. The other real problem here is that I am not a writer. I know that there are many people out there that would be able to take my words and my feelings and express them in a humorous way or put an eloquent spin on them, but in my simple way let me say "He was the Best Dog Ever!".

He came to our house because of my sadness over losing Mickey. Even though it sounds odd, after we had to put him down at age 14, I missed having him sit in front of the bathroom door to wait patiently as I "finished my business there". It would really annoy me sometimes, but when they are gone, you really miss them underfoot.

For at least a week I mourned Mickey and then I found myself everyday at the pet store looking in all the little stalls hoping that there was a puppy that would steal my heart. Not only that, but I had to get it to steal Steve's heart too and that was gonna be tough! One day while I was gazing through the glass windows at a litter of Schnauzers, Steve surprised me and showed up by my side. I fell in love with the little girl and he fell in love with the little boy and we bought them both. They were $400 each and Steve managed to get them to take off $50 for buying both of them.

Gus and Daisy. Gus was the feisty, proud one and Daisy the little mother, always fussing over Gus and grooming his eyes and putting up with him dragging her around by the collar. Then 2 years later my Mom moved into the basement for a short stay and they fell in love with her. In the end, Mom took Daisy home to be the most pampered pooch you have ever met. Gus stayed here to keep tabs on my two teenage boys.

The boys taught Gus some very naughty habits and when he would start growling during rough play, anyone within earshot that didn't know Gus would think he was going to rip their heads off. Boy did he sound mean. But he was loyal and put up with a lot of teasing and loved him with all their hearts. The girls loved him too, but it wasn't the same. Of course, I was his favorite and he knew in the end who to run to.

Then Alesha and Stephen and Tripp moved into the basement apartment. Again, Gus attached himself to Tripp and when they left, he went with them. He was five years old. He went everywhere with them, including to my house when they visited.

During their last visit, on Mother's Day, we had to have him put to sleep to relieve him of the intense pain. But in the end, we have to keep in mind that in all likelihood, we will outlive our beloved pets.

It's a new day for Tripp and his family. My guess is that it won't be long before he has a new little puppy to train right along with raising a new brother.