Remembering Sadie
Geppetto is mourning the loss of Sadie, his most loyal supporter and companion. Everything is relative, but the pain of losing loved ones is universal.
Judging by the outpouring of kind support and condolences Geppetto received surrounding Sadie’s death, Sadie was special and her passing is noteworthy amidst all the drama and pain in the world, if only because as a prime ambassador of dogdom, Sadie impressed virtually everyone she came in contact with as the poster child of grace and beauty and surprising intelligence, happy good manners, enduring love and absolute loyalty. Sadie swayed the hearts of even the most ardent non-dog folks, endearing herself to everyone and gently eliciting abundant love in return
Sadly, Sadie was diagnosed with breast cancer just as she and Geppetto returned to the northeast last spring. Thanks to a hugely generous dear friend of Geppetto’s and most definitely of Sadie’s, she had surgery at Sand Road Animal Hospital to remove the cancerous tumors. Unfortunately, despite the greatest care lovingly applied to Sadie by the vets, her cancer had already metastasized beyond reach and the prognosis was bad.
But she quickly rallied from the surgery and had a great summer running after chipmunks and gracefully playing in the woods. She still loved traveling all over the northeast at Geppetto’s side. Although she was slowing down, she seemed happy and content.
Then in August at a practice in her sequined collar, her growing lack of energy held her back and caused her to miss her last show. Very soon after that, right after Labor Day, she quickly fell off the edge and into the next dimension.
Sadie is now resting under a clump of maiden hair ferns in the heaven of her home woods. But even at rest, she continues to press herself into Geppetto’s heart folds.
She is still very sorely missed, but like a wounded tree heals, people do too. Two months later, as Geppetto catches Sadie in his peripheral vision loyally next to him each day, instead of bringing tears, now the sight of Sadie beside him tugs at his lips and heart strings, bringing a grateful smile for all the gifts she brought to bear on him and her world, and he says loudly enough for her to hear, “Girliedog, you are extraordinary.”
