Now for the good!
1. He was the best pass rusher in history - no quarterback could withstand the onslaught of Louie!
2. He played basketball on his hindlegs and caught the ball with his front legs. He was guilty of numerous over-the-back fouls.
3. He never met a soccer ball he couldn’t pop.
4. He was the official ball shagger for my daughter’s softball team. He loved Sissy’s games!
5. He understood more English words than most people I know.
6. Having been born into a German speaking household, he could always pick out German speaking tourists.
7. He knew that hot air balloon tours were good for a snack of salami half-way through our early morning hikes.
8. He never forgot a friend or a family member.
9. He defended the yard and his own cats from all intruders.
10. He believed in rules to live by and he had a code of honor.
11. He loved playing RPGs with my son and his friends. He’d wear any costume they put on him or play any role they asked of him. He was just one of the guys.
12. He feared nothing but the Santa Anna winds.
13. He was kind to all babies and animals smaller and weaker than himself. He even tried to avoid stepping on baby toads when they covered the hiking trail. He once managed to sneak up on a squirrel and sniff its tail.
14. He was an awful swimmer until he got his lifejacket and then he became the little tugboat that could.
15. He liked nothing more than to go for coffee at Peets, where he could bask in the attention of his many admirers. He got a scone.
16. I have to stop now, but I’ll say this: The sad part of life is death. The sad part of loving an animal (other than a parrot) is that they have a short lifespan. As heartbreaking as Louie’s death is, I wouldn’t have missed a single minute of his life.
I’ll be better next week. I’m off now to a book signing up in Oregon. Kiss your kids and and your significant others and cherish your pets.
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June 11th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Awww. *hug*
June 11th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
You made me cry. This is a beautiful tribute. *hug*
June 11th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Enjoy the book signing…
mmmhh…
E;)
June 11th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Crying right now for Louie, you, your husband and of course the cats who will miss him also. Julia found out about Louie’s passing off another bloggers post and I am so so sorry, it hurts so badly to lose a furry friend and my heart goes out to you and your family..
Hugs from a pet lover who has been there, the best part of life is having a 4 legged best buddy and when they are gone to have the wonderful memories and smiles those memories bring. The worst part is the hole in your heart that will never go away, but like you would not miss one second of the good times!!!
jackie b
June 11th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
*hugs*
I’m sorry for your loss.
June 11th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
That was a beautiful post Julia…It’s wonderful that y’all will have some incredible memories of Louie to remember him by.
*hugs*
June 11th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
17. He was afraid of the dark but compensated by acting tough.
18. He could fetch any of ten different toys on command and not get them mixed up.
19. It really bothered him when the pack got separated.
20. He had a certain fondness for un-neutered labs.
21. He had infinite patience when you stopped to talk with a friend or acquaintance.
22. He loved to play ball but would never give up the ball without a fight.
23. He always went to get his football while you were watching a football game.
24. He hated to be brushed but loved to look pretty.
25. He felt he deserved at least 10% of every cookie.
26. He loved his mommy and daddy and his brother and sisters.
He was, the most interesting dog in the world.
June 12th, 2010 at 1:23 am
A beautiful tribute. (((Hugs)))
June 12th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I am so sorry, Julia. Louie sounds a wonderful dog and an amazing character. It must have been a massive, horrible shock.
You sound to have some great memories of him!
Hugs ((())) ((())) ((()))
June 12th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
He’s in doggie heaven…RIP Louie! Feel better, Julia.
June 12th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Sending lots of love and hugs. My Grendel is getting up there, and I know it won’t be too long-it’s HARD!
June 13th, 2010 at 2:46 am
Now you made my teary eyed at work.
((hugs))