Family Roles

... vary greatly.

Our recent losses within the Catican Compound have underlined this. Our Maximum Leader lent whatever room she was in an air of grace, dignity and calm. She'd wander in and then lie down and idly watch what was going on. It was all peace and serenity.

Ellie, our 5-year-old Chihuahua-Cocker mix, provided spark and energy to us all. With her passing, everyone is mopey and lethargic. Part of that is our mourning, of course, and will fade with time. While Katie's death at 16 was sad, but expected, this one was a kick in the stomach. Several kicks, actually. You can't escape the feeling that something hugely important is missing everywhere you go. We're lacking the family member who wiggled just for the sake of wiggling*.

So that's where we are in this 4th of July. I hope yours is a lot better than ours.

* - Ellie had a licking fetish. When excited, she would lick whatever was handy - a part of your body, the seat of the couch or even just the air. She was always happy and full of fun.