 |
| Beckett, Keltic and I at Cabela's on 17 Dec 2019 |
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Heart Dogs Heal
So 2019 didn't end the way I expected but isn't that the way of life; two days before Christmas I had to let my Beckett go. He had stopped eating much over the weekend and Monday morning his gums were really pale; I called over to my vet's office and got in for an appointment that same morning. Beckett had a large tumour in his abdomen and the prognosis, even with surgery, was that he would only have a few weeks. I had made the decision even before we had the x-ray results, that if it was a tumour, I would let him go. In the Canine Cancer group, there is a saying: "Better one day too soon than one day too late"; he wasn't in distress and was able to go peacefully in my arms. But this blog post is about Beckett's life not his passing.
Ever since I first saw my first bi black Sheltie I was hooked and since then I've always had one sable and one bi black. In 2009, Tucker, my sable was nearly nine years old and Ceilidh, my bi black was only six; so when I started to look for a Sheltie puppy you would have thought I'd be looking for a sable but I found this available bi black puppy on a web site.
I posted the picture to FaceBook and my niece commented about whether I wanted a third dog. I replied I've already decided on a third dog but should it be a bi black; it wasn't much of a decision and I quickly arranged his purchase with the breeder. I picked him up the Saturday of Labour Day weekend. My father was up visiting, I drove him, Ceilidh and Tucker to my sister's place in Kingston and drove on to Oshawa to get Beckett. We stayed overnight at my sister's and drove home to Ottawa on the Sunday. My dad and I took the dogs to the park on Labour Day Monday where little Beckett played with an 8 month old Sheltie. While playing, I think the other Sheltie stepped on his leg and he came back to me holding up a leg and crying. Off to the animal hospital we went; my dad and I spent five hours waiting to see the emergency vet and for X-rays to be taken. Initially they said it was just dislocated but when the radiologist looked at the X-rays, the diagnosis was that it was a break, a clean break so no surgery but just a splint for 6 to 8 weeks. Beckett was a little trooper and got the nickname Brave Beckett. He was in the splint until after our Thanksgiving in October.
Then in January 2010, on New Year's Day, I was putting Ceilidh in the car and felt what I thought was a large mat of hair on her upper inner thigh. When we got home, I looked and it turned out to be an open sore. The next day, I took her into my vet's, the needle biopsy said it was mast cell cancer. Ceilidh had surgery to remove the tumour on her 7th birthday, 21 Jan 2010; on the same day Beckett was being neutered. I had dropped them both off in the morning, Beckett at my vet's, then Ceilidh at the animal hospital and had gone on to work. By the time I got into the office, there was already a call from my vet's office asking if I wanted IV fluids for Beckett as one of his kidney values was high. I was pretty distraught; when I picked up Beckett that evening, the vet tech said that the hospital had called about Ceilidh and she understood then why I had a hard time making the decision about the IV fluids. Beckett was fine and Ceilidh's surgery went well too but the biopsy on the tumour came back as Grade 3, the most aggressive type of cancer and she was started on chemotherapy. Beckett was my lifeline though Ceilidh's journey and perhaps that's why we had such a special connection.
Beckett was my dream dog, he loved to play fetch with both balls and Frisbees but Frisbee was his favourite. He excelled (even if it's only my opinion) in agility; he helped me reach higher than I ever thought I would get. We went to the Canada Cup three times and made five finals competing against dogs some of whom had competed at world championships. We made the podium many times at our regional agility championships and even placed in the ribbons in some events at the National Agility Championships. Beckett achieved both Silver Award of Merit and Silver Versatility titles in the Agility Association of Canada.
He didn't like to swim but learned to like wading in the water during our summers in Shediac and would even swim for me if I put a life jacket on him. We enjoyed camping and hiking so he had the chance to travel to the Maritimes, to New York state and all over Ontario. I was sure that he would be on the trip out west with me next summer but he'll be along in spirit, I'm sure.
We gave herding a try when Beckett was young and he did have those herding instincts. It was amazing to see innate skills come out. It's too bad there wasn't a place close by to take lessons, I think he would have done well in herding too.
Triadic's Glenciaran Beckett, HIT, ADC, SGDC, AADC, AGDC, MADC, MGDC, MSDC, MJDC, MTRDC, MSCDC, ATChC, ExSt Bronze, ExJ Bronze, ExS Bronze, ExTr Bronze, ExSc Bronze, VBA, Bronze Award of Merit, ExSt Silver, ExJ Silver, ExS Silver, ExSc Silver, VSA, Silver Award of Merit
Ever since I first saw my first bi black Sheltie I was hooked and since then I've always had one sable and one bi black. In 2009, Tucker, my sable was nearly nine years old and Ceilidh, my bi black was only six; so when I started to look for a Sheltie puppy you would have thought I'd be looking for a sable but I found this available bi black puppy on a web site.
I posted the picture to FaceBook and my niece commented about whether I wanted a third dog. I replied I've already decided on a third dog but should it be a bi black; it wasn't much of a decision and I quickly arranged his purchase with the breeder. I picked him up the Saturday of Labour Day weekend. My father was up visiting, I drove him, Ceilidh and Tucker to my sister's place in Kingston and drove on to Oshawa to get Beckett. We stayed overnight at my sister's and drove home to Ottawa on the Sunday. My dad and I took the dogs to the park on Labour Day Monday where little Beckett played with an 8 month old Sheltie. While playing, I think the other Sheltie stepped on his leg and he came back to me holding up a leg and crying. Off to the animal hospital we went; my dad and I spent five hours waiting to see the emergency vet and for X-rays to be taken. Initially they said it was just dislocated but when the radiologist looked at the X-rays, the diagnosis was that it was a break, a clean break so no surgery but just a splint for 6 to 8 weeks. Beckett was a little trooper and got the nickname Brave Beckett. He was in the splint until after our Thanksgiving in October.
Then in January 2010, on New Year's Day, I was putting Ceilidh in the car and felt what I thought was a large mat of hair on her upper inner thigh. When we got home, I looked and it turned out to be an open sore. The next day, I took her into my vet's, the needle biopsy said it was mast cell cancer. Ceilidh had surgery to remove the tumour on her 7th birthday, 21 Jan 2010; on the same day Beckett was being neutered. I had dropped them both off in the morning, Beckett at my vet's, then Ceilidh at the animal hospital and had gone on to work. By the time I got into the office, there was already a call from my vet's office asking if I wanted IV fluids for Beckett as one of his kidney values was high. I was pretty distraught; when I picked up Beckett that evening, the vet tech said that the hospital had called about Ceilidh and she understood then why I had a hard time making the decision about the IV fluids. Beckett was fine and Ceilidh's surgery went well too but the biopsy on the tumour came back as Grade 3, the most aggressive type of cancer and she was started on chemotherapy. Beckett was my lifeline though Ceilidh's journey and perhaps that's why we had such a special connection.
Beckett was my dream dog, he loved to play fetch with both balls and Frisbees but Frisbee was his favourite. He excelled (even if it's only my opinion) in agility; he helped me reach higher than I ever thought I would get. We went to the Canada Cup three times and made five finals competing against dogs some of whom had competed at world championships. We made the podium many times at our regional agility championships and even placed in the ribbons in some events at the National Agility Championships. Beckett achieved both Silver Award of Merit and Silver Versatility titles in the Agility Association of Canada.
He didn't like to swim but learned to like wading in the water during our summers in Shediac and would even swim for me if I put a life jacket on him. We enjoyed camping and hiking so he had the chance to travel to the Maritimes, to New York state and all over Ontario. I was sure that he would be on the trip out west with me next summer but he'll be along in spirit, I'm sure.
We gave herding a try when Beckett was young and he did have those herding instincts. It was amazing to see innate skills come out. It's too bad there wasn't a place close by to take lessons, I think he would have done well in herding too.
For all his drive and energy, Beckett was a very gentle dog, most people were surprised at how gently he took treats from their hands. He was also a little shy, Keltic helped him see strangers as friends. He was my Momma's boy. Most dogs look "at" you but with Beckett I always felt he was looking into my heart and soul; I had never felt such a deep connection with my other dogs but that's not to say I didn't love them. Beckett was my heart dog, we were always there for each other.
"Joy was just the thing he was raised on, love was just a way to live and die."
(Matthew by John Denver)
Beckett, I know you loved me and you were so loved.
Triadic's Glenciaran Beckett, HIT, ADC, SGDC, AADC, AGDC, MADC, MGDC, MSDC, MJDC, MTRDC, MSCDC, ATChC, ExSt Bronze, ExJ Bronze, ExS Bronze, ExTr Bronze, ExSc Bronze, VBA, Bronze Award of Merit, ExSt Silver, ExJ Silver, ExS Silver, ExSc Silver, VSA, Silver Award of Merit
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Christmas Memories
Well, Christmas is fast approaching. I've got all my cards mailed and my gifts are all purchased but I haven't started wrapping them yet. I bought my tree this week, the lights are all on and I'll decorate on Sunday, hopefully some friends will be able to join me.
When I was a kid, my parents made Christmas so special. It was always exciting and so hard to sleep on Christmas Eve. I remember one Christmas, we were still up watching TV and all of a sudden there were candy canes were on the tree, none of us had seen either Mum or Dad put them there. So, of course, we believed them when they said it was the elves and we had better get to bed before Santa came.
This is the second Christmas without my parents but I still feel them with me. Sometimes though, at Christmas when there are so many family memories that make me nostalgic, those same memories make me a little sad too.
I'm grateful to have family and friends to help make Christmas special but there are still those moments when I would like to have my parents with me again.
Merry Christmas Mum and Dad, wish you were here.
Video of My Christmas Memories
Music: Memories by Maroon 5
When I was a kid, my parents made Christmas so special. It was always exciting and so hard to sleep on Christmas Eve. I remember one Christmas, we were still up watching TV and all of a sudden there were candy canes were on the tree, none of us had seen either Mum or Dad put them there. So, of course, we believed them when they said it was the elves and we had better get to bed before Santa came.
 |
| Christmas 1958 |
 |
| Christmas 1959 |
 |
| Christmas 1961 |
Merry Christmas Mum and Dad, wish you were here.
Video of My Christmas Memories
Music: Memories by Maroon 5
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Throwback Thursday
Photo was taken in the living room of the house we rented while living in Great Falls, Montana. It probably was taken in either 67 or 68. We moved to Great Falls the summer of 1967 and moved back to Canada in 1970. I had already started Brownies in Canada and since we didn't have Juniors like they did in the States I wore my Canadian Brownie uniform with the Juniors' badge sash. In Canada, I had been in the 1st Alsask pack which many people mistakenly read as Alaska. My sister and brother had on the US Brownie and Cub Scout uniform as they started the program while we were in the States.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Lest We Forget
One Thousand Men Are Walking
One thousand men are walking
Walking side by side
The spirit as their guide
they walk toward the light milord
they walk towards the sun
they smoke and laugh and smile together
no foes to outrun
these men live on forever
in the hearts of those they saved
a nation truly grateful
for the path of peace they paved
they march as friends and comrades
but they do not march for war
step closer to salvation
a tranquil steady corps
the meadows lit with golden beams
a beacon for the brave
the emerald grass untrampled
a reward for what they gave
they dream of those they left behind
and know they dream of them
forever in those poppy fields
there walks one thousand men
Joshua Dyer 2019 (aged 14)
The spirit as their guide
they walk toward the light milord
they walk towards the sun
they smoke and laugh and smile together
no foes to outrun
these men live on forever
in the hearts of those they saved
a nation truly grateful
for the path of peace they paved
they march as friends and comrades
but they do not march for war
step closer to salvation
a tranquil steady corps
the meadows lit with golden beams
a beacon for the brave
the emerald grass untrampled
a reward for what they gave
they dream of those they left behind
and know they dream of them
forever in those poppy fields
there walks one thousand men
Joshua Dyer 2019 (aged 14)
In Sep, my sisters and I had the opportunity to visit the National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. If you are ever in the Washington, DC area, it is a place you definitely must see. The cemetery is free to visit but there is a cost to ride the trolleys where there are guides to explain some of what you see. Uniformed members of the Armed Forces get to ride the trolleys for free, active service members get 75% off and veterans get 50% off. You also get to bring one guest at that price with you. The cemetery is huge so using the trolleys is almost a must if you want to see all the highlights of the cemetery and have limited time; with two of us being veterans we all were able to ride the trolley at half price. The site I wanted to see most was the Tomb of the Unknowns so it was the first place we got off the trolley while many people had gotten off at the first stop which was the Kennedy grave site.
 |
| Tomb of the Unknowns |
 |
| Honor Guard |
 |
| Wreath Laying |
 |
| Cross of Sacrifice (Canada) |
 |
| Arlington Pentagon Memorial |
There were wreath layings going on when we arrived, one was just finishing. We stayed to watch two more, one by school boys and another by Armored officers for their fallen comrades. One of the guides told us that one of the tombs, there are four (WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam), was empty as DNA evidence had identified the solider who had lain in the tomb. Everyone in the crowd was quiet and respectful. Below is a video of the Tomb of the Unknowns and our visit to Arlington.
I don't know how anyone can go to a military cemetery and then say the Remembrance Day glorifies war; it doesn't, it remembers sacrifice and lives lost, hopefully for what was a just cause. At Arlington, you can see so many lives that have been lost, although not all the graves are of soldiers, many are those of family members as well.
 |
| Civil War Unknowns |
Every soldier, sailor or airman has sworn to go into harms way when so directed by our government; so even if you do not agree with that action, remember the courage of the men and women who gave their all doing their sworn duty.
 |
| Sgt Craig Gilliam |
 |
| Maj Ray RuckPaul |
 |
| Maj Scott Foote |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)