on friendship and extended love

Our old boy Jackson

When we left Colorado, we left pieces of us behind. So many pieces. Bits and pieces.

A year ago we spent our last Thanksgiving in our old blue house, giving thanks to all the times we spent around our dining room table with my sister, brother-in-law and their two kids. Many holiday and un-holiday meals and great times were shared with their family and ours, watching our kids grow up. We knew that would be the last one, after twenty years, in that house. As they packed their car to leave and drive back across the mountain to their house, they lovingly packed two pieces of us with them. One a bit big, one a bit small, but the two bound together by their similar gold hair and a friendship that bridged the canine and feline world.

Our dog Jackson and our cat Fidgit. Both, not ever favorable to the Colorado heat and accustomed to the snowy winters, found themselves being adopted by this extension of our family. We feared the wild animals that we had been warned against (true enough)and the heat of the long summer, might be too much for these guys. So sadly, as I busied myself with the dishes, having said my tearful goodbye earlier, they were loaded into the back of a new car, headed out on their own journey.

We have never stopped thinking of them. We knew that the excitement and tender love from my niece and nephew given to these two furry boys would be large. What we didn't know is that it would extend to their close knit neighborhood. We got to skype over the computer a few times and see their silly faces. We heard the stories of Fidgit terrorizing the neighborhood. Country cat moves to the city suburbs! Most of the time, for me, I found it too painful to even ask about them, feeling a sense of abandonment on our part.

This past tuesday, we learned that Jackson had become very sick over the weekend. A visit to the vet found that he had cancer. A lymphoma that was spreading rapidly. By thursday he had gotten much worse. Our son, who is at college in a neighboring town, went to visit him thursday night. And then yesterday he died. Peacefully. My sister and her husband by his side. Saying goodbye to that big old dog who they welcomed into their home, to love that last year of his life was hard. And for us, so many miles away.

We will be ever grateful to Dave, Janet, Aida and Braden, for taking the two bits of our Colorado life and petting them, chasing them, walking them, feeding them and most of all loving them for us. We will be ever grateful to Jackson for his big 'ole friendly self and all the fun memories we have of him. And to Fidgit, who we know is now lonely for his sidekick, snack provider, cuddle pal and all around best friend...you're okay buddy. You still have two families that love you.

We have and we will still miss you Jackson.

Be happy in pet heaven with Racer, Casey and Reggie.