Sande

[sea4th]

My friend Sande died this past Monday. She lived a long life, worthy enough to be written down and read. I'd known Sande for years. She was everyone's Auntie Mame. In her younger days she was an actress on stage in NYC, and modeled. Her red hair and model-worthy legs were a source of pride and, well, vanity for her. After she became widowed, she adopted a senior border collie girl from me - -- Hannah. Hannah was rescued from the armpit of Cleveland -- loaded with ticks, broken teeth and unbeknownst to me when I got her, pregnant with one pup that she delivered dead. When she gained her strength back she was spayed. Hannah was terrified - blind panic type of terror - of people. Eventually I placed her with Sande, and the two could be seen running errands in their van around the small town where they lived. Sande, the elegant red-haired lady and Hannah, split-faced and always with a toothless grin -- the world was now wonderful for her. During the Christmas holidays, Hannah and Sande would both be decked out to the nines in the glitter worthy of the holiday season. Hannah lived a few years, good years, with Sande and then went quickly downhill. Soon after Hannah died, Sande's health took a turn for the worse.

 

To the end, Sande maintained her trademark red hair. It was only after one of her legs were amputated that something inside her died.

 

I will miss you my friend and I will never forget you. They broke the mold when they made you. No more pain, but no time for rest, not for you. Your life was the biggest casting call of all. And now that the curtains closed for the last time, it's to a standing ovation. You did well my friend, and I am so proud to have known you.

 

See you down the road sometime.

 

ETA - I use Sande & Hannah's story as proof that not only you can indeed adopt a senior dog successfully, but it can be a match made in heaven.

[BustopherJones]

waranta putiya nayri

nara taymi krakapaka waranta-tu manta waranta tunapri nara

 

And their absence saddens us.

But they will never be dead for us as long as we remember them.

[Sue R]

Hooray for Sande - a life well lived! Now Hannah and Sande's hearts are full because they are together forever.

[bc friend]

My spympathies to you on the loss of a friend. She sounds like a very special person - clearly taking in a senior bc and giving her a great home shows her character. I hope she and Hannah have been reunited at the Bridge.

[Cody & Duchess]

What a wonderful tribute you wrote to Sande- we can all take a moment an reflect that there are good people in this world and when they pass we miss them dearly. Their actions speak volumes after they are no longer with us - I am sure at moments of doubt you might ask yourself "what would Sande do". Live life and rejoice.

[aljones]

What a touching story of Sande's life and the love she and Hannah shared. Kudos to you for bringing the two of them together so that they could enjoy that companionship.