More Lucas remembrances

It's been a little over a month, and things still seem weird without him. The things we did for him, the things he did...just don't seem over. I was boiling chicken for a recipe, and I put back some pieces that were yucky looking to me, but that he would love and was letting them cool when I realized what I was doing. He was a boiled chicken addict. When he was very ill a few years ago, the Vet told me to do this for him, along with rice..which was such a joke, and he was hooked. He was able to eat the chicken leaving every grain of rice in his bowl untouched. He told me he wasn't into starch. He could be at deaths door and boiled chicken would revive him. He learned that trick right away....no thank you...no dog food for me..I'm planning my death..What?? Do I smell water boiling with chicken in it??? Why, I'm feeling MUCH better!!! Brat. But I always gave in. I was alone in the house recently for 10 days while David was out of town, and I realized it was the first time in my entire life I had been alone completely. I never realized how that scaredy cat dog comforted me when David went on trips. I could always count on him to lead the burgling-murderers right to me, but at least I wouldn't be alone when I died! With him gone, I felt quite scared, surprisingly. I'm sure I'll get better, but this first time was no fun at all. He was with us for 15 years. You can't undo routines overnight that we'd developed. I still close the door when I'm bringing in groceries so he won't escape. Not that he could go far anymore...he used to run at full gallop down the street with me chasing him on foot. The last time he got out he went 3 houses down and laid down waiting for me to come get him. He just wanted to show me he could still sneak out. OH, and he wanted to be carried back home. With age comes priveledge, right?? There's a few things that I can do that I couldn't do when he was here...put gum in the trash can. Yes, he chewed gum. It was quite amusing. Put a plate of food on the coffee table and leave it while I got my drink. He would share my supper with me. Him first. Also, the open door for groceries thing. I think it makes my heart hurt the most. Well, I'm still on the fence on getting another pet. Not quite ready to go down the puppy road..I feel like Lucas was a puppy at the end..if you know what I mean. I'm not really into that again so soon. Maybe in a while. We'll see. I'll see....

Pawsing to remember my 4-legged pal

Making the decision to end the life of your 4 legged constant companion is about as easy as..well, it's not easy at all. The only consolation is that our little Lucas McPookus, one of his many names, is no longer suffering. He was also known as stupid dog, #*@% dog, puppy, old man, DOG (Kaylee)..and many more I'm sure. He was with us for 15 years, so the good times DID exceed the bad times..most of the time! He was loyal, unless the front door was left open, obedient unless he wasn't, a GREAT hunter..but not a GREAT giver-upper of the hunted-once-caught...and afraid of water and storms. He was Shelley's dog primarily, but he'd become my buddy once she went off to college and David worked all the live-long day. He had some pretty quirky ways..he would bump the bathroom door when I was in there, just enough to see me with one eye, and lay on the floor outside the bathroom, watching me, til I came out JUST IN CASE I was needing to go to the fridge and get him lunchmeat, which was his addiction. He hid under Shelley's bed when he heard keys jangling in case we were thinking about putting him out, he could find the hidden pill in the lunch meat, eat the meat, then spit the pill out. That took talent. Before his hips got bad and he could no longer go on walks, he would drag us along, sniffing at every bush and tree, with an endless supply of pee to share with the world. I'll never understand how he couldn't produce one drop at the vet's office, but could pee for a solid 40 minute walk the day before! Oh, and speaking of the vet..we always got to go in first, no matter what our appointment time, because Lucas liked to "talk" to all the other pets in the lobby. A Lot. Loudly. Non-stop. The staff knew him by bay. He loved people. Especially people that drop food while they eat. He was a prolific scavenger...wandering among the humans while they ate at pool parties or holiday gatherings. He became Kaylee's bestest friend, at least at snack time. He seemed to de-friend her when she was food-less. I'll post a picture of him watchfully waiting for the droppage. I'll think of more things to share about my friend, but right now, I just wanted to remember some things that made him who he was. He will be missed greatly, for a long time. I love you Lukie. Always.
Mom