Part
III - September 21, 2002
"...service
in blue..."
It
has been more than three weeks since MJ went on her way. Although
the time has softened our loss somewhat, the memories of our
sweet girl dog grow stronger.
As
I put these pages together as a tribute to Our Blue Dog, I begin
to realize how much she affected our lives these past ten years.
She has shared all the good and bad times with us, helped us
through difficult decisions and transitions - her "service
in blue" to us giving us comfort, hope, joy. She was always
there when we needed a grin, a look, a nuzzle, or a hug. She
was totally devoted to us, and we often speculated that she
would put herself between us and any physical danger, that she
would "take a bullet" for us, if necessary. She was
willing to do just that, and these weeks of contemplation on
her marvelous time here, convinced me that she did take a lot
of the pain away from us in all kinds of ways.
Martha
Jane was joyful dog. And her joy to see us spilled all over
us every day. She loved to travel, and of course, she had the
whole back seat of our extended cab GMC to herself. She was
particular about her space, but she loved being enclosed in
a safe place. A safe place was anywhere we were, and she always
was ready to go in her room next to my office in the barn, when
it was time to settle down for sleep. When I arrived at work
the next morning she was always peeking out of the door to greet
another joyful day, in her job as my office manager, or "head
of ranch security".
Martha
Jane has a new job. She is a Moonraker and Sunset Maker. The
sunsets have been unusually spectacular this month. "Thank
you, Martha", we say to each other, when the streaks of
yellow, orange, and purple paint not only the western sky, but
all around, reflecting off the clouds to the north and east.
Last evening, we were out in front of the house, admiring a
new fence we have been working on. I happened to glance down
the street to the east, and saw the biggest orange ball sitting
on the end of the street, behind some trees. Of course, it was
the near-full moon, rising huge and quickly over our little
town, and as we looked out to the west, there was another of
MJ's sunset beauties, flashing and multicolored like her beautiful
coat. That dog is still a calamity, and she will fill our lives
now, as she always did, taking away our sadness, as she once
took away our pain.
And
she is still the sweetest dog ever born.
