Remembering SADDI

On May 10, 1996, i was introduced to my best friend.   The love of my life.

i had been thinking of getting a doggie, but that's all it was, just a thought.  And then a family friend, Shirley Van Loon, said she was going to a house where they were giving away chow/lab puppies and invited me to go with her.  i went, reluctantly.   

When we arrived at the house, the mommy was outside barking on the warm dry May day.  The humans said they only had three puppies, out of nine, available.  They let two puppies out of the house and they took off running in the front yard, crashing into one another, causing the dry dirt on the ground to rise into a cloud.  Shirley tried to pick up the blonde puppy, despite its mix, looked very much like a lab, but the puppy was so wildly happy it was nearly impossible.

Just as the screen door was about to close, out walked a black ball of fur, looking like a bear cub.  She walked down the three steps from the porch, walked across the yard, dodging her silly brother and sister, and came over and sat on my foot with her head on my leg looking up at me.  i was told to pick her up, but i insisted i wasn't ready, i was just looking.  But i finally bent down and lifted her.  She snuggled her head against my neck and we were together for 13.5 years.

When we got home, i introduced SADDI (i already had the name picked out) to her yard.  i chased her and we rolled around together on the grass.   SADDI was very tickless on her sides.  When he laid on her back, i would tickle her and she would smile so big.

After eight weeks without a bath at her old home, i took her into the house and began giving her a bath in the sink.  She cried and stood up on her back legs, putting her front paws on my shoulders, digging her sharp little nails into me.  i tried to dry her off with a white towel, but she wanted nothing to do with that.  All her life, SADDI hated getting wet and for a long time, she wanted nothing to do with a white towel.

i then went in to take my own shower, closed the door and stepped into the shower.  SADDI stood outside the door and cried so loudly.  Dripping wet, i stepped out and opened the door to ensure her i would be right out.  She was seated just outside the door looking up at me.  i asked her if she wanted to come in, but she just sat there.  So i left the door open and finished my shower.   But she still didn't like that she couldn't see me with the shower curtain closed.   So i took my shower with the curtain open so she could she me.

Later that night, as i went to bed, SADDI stood at the foot of the bed whimpering.   i told her to get up on the bed, it's hers now.  She jumped up, laid down on the pillow next to me.

i miss my SADDI so much.  An hour never passes without a thought or memory of her.  i truly look forward to the day we are reunited.