There are some times in every dog's life that he looks back with regret. This is one of those times. On December 29th, we lost a cousin. Maggie was the 'only child' of Pat & Betty Mullady. The only 'pup child', that is. And she was, by all accounts, a tad bit spoiled!
But that's good - if you're a pup!
"Hands" tells us stories of Maggie often. How she hated baths, and ran to her Dad whenever her Mom so much as mentioned 'bath-time'. How she would greet visitors with a chirpy little bark, and then 'invite' them to chase her around through the living room, dining room and entrance area. This was her game. And her way of saying "I'm glad you're here".
Maggie arrived at Pat & Betty's in a basket!
She was a gift from four of Pat & Betty's HUMAN children, and was hidden in a basket with a lid. When the lid was opened - out popped Maggie's head!
Pat & Betty were shocked! And it was 'love at first sight'!
They had no idea that they were about to enter the life of a darling little Maltese who would bring to them such joy and happiness! Maggie worked her 'magic', and soon enough she was running the household!
The trips to Florida are long and oft times can be boring if you're riding in a car for hours on end. But Maggie never seemed bored at all. She rode, standing on Mom's leg, with her two front paws on the side window of the car so she wouldn't miss anything. Now and then, Dad would utter three of her favorite words: "Where's the goats". Maggie would growl as she wagged her tail and searched the landscape for those pesky goats.
At 9pm, as you know, it's treat time for most of us.
Maggie loved treat time! And, like most of us, she could tell time - especially TREAT TIME! Every night, she'd sit in front of her Dad and do her little bark and whine. Every night! Every night at 9:o'clock! He'd ignore her until finally her Mom would send Dad to the kitchen to fetch the treat. That was somewhat of a game between Maggie and her Dad. And they played that game each and every night.
One thing Maggie enjoyed more than walks or rides or even treats was company! Didn't matter who it was, whoever was visiting over night would end up with Maggie in the bed. She would do anything to let you know you were welcomed, and sleeping on your chest or tummy was just one way she had of welcoming.
"Hands" tells us that, once she was 'Maggie-sitting', and Maggie started barking - wagging her tail - like it was treat time or something. "Hands" went to the kitchen, but Maggie stopped short of the kitchen doorway. "Hands" thought that maybe she needed to go outside to do her 'business'. So down the steps they headed for the door.
Once outside however, Maggie ran to the garage and again barked to signal "Hands" to open the door - which "Hands" did of course. She ran over to where her Dad keeps his three-wheeled bike and stood on her back paws with her front paws on the basket and wagged her tail some more.
It was BIKE TIME!
"Hands" knew Maggie took bike rides with Mom and Dad, but she wasn't aware of BIKE TIME - until now! What to do! "Hands" isn't exactly 'fitted' for bike rides, but she placed Maggie in the basket and 'walked' the bike around the drive, to the barn and back, and around the drive again. Maggie was pleased as punch, but sure would have loved it all the more if they were heading up the road instead. The goats live up the road. They may be in need of a scolding from a little white pup! But the 'ride' was good enough for Maggie. Now...if she could only teach "Hands" some other tricks!
Sometimes it just isn't worth a pup's time.
There's lots of stories about Maggie. Of how sweet she was. Of how she'd twirl for show (and treats). Of how excited she'd get when it was time to go in the car. And of how she refused to acknowledge another 'dog' - believing that she wasn't a dog at all - but a human who had to periodically put up with 'dogs' like Mindy or Molly, that mile-a-minute Macy and her side-kick Mandy - or worse yet - BAILEY THE BEAGLE!
No, Maggie was a people-pup. People could, after all, hold her and pet her and tell her just how pretty she is, and take her for bike rides and walks and fix her pillow at night. Dogs couldn't do those things, so why bother with them!
Maggie was...Maggie. There just aren't many who could come close to her - certainly not in her Mom and Dad's eyes! Her Dad told everyone that Maggie was their 'favorite kid' - she didn't stay out past curfew...she didn't make near the mess...and his favorite line of all - she did exactly WHAT she was told to do WHEN she was told to do it!
(Well, I think her Dad might have over-spoke there! Maggie seems to be the one in charge!)
This past Christmas was, as usual, at Maggie's home. Santa came - as he does always - and there were people and wrapping paper and food galore! There were laps to be sat upon and hands just waiting to pet a little pup called Maggie!
And then it happened. The 'dogs' arrived!
Macy and her new little sister Mandy hadn't come for Christmas at first. Their Mom and Dad - Pat & Angie - thought it best to leave them behind for fear they'd cause a commotion. That was fine with Maggie, but everyone else wanted them to be there, so Pat & Angie went and got them.
Mandy is just a wee little miniature poodle - as black as coal. Macy is white and is bigger - bigger than Mandy...bigger than Maggie - but cute as the dickens and fast as lightning! "Hands" says that sometimes Macy reminds her of Allicks - flying a mile a minute and loving every second of the trip!
After everyone left that Christmas Eve, it was time for bed. Though there was 'company' staying over night, Maggie wanted to sleep with her Mom and Dad. Actually, she hadn't spent but one night with "company" during the nights of their stay - which was strange. For some reason, these nights she wanted only Mom and Dad.
I think she knew. I think she knew and she wanted to show them that they were the most important people in the whole world to her.
Christmas morning, things were fine.
But a couple days later, Maggie needed to see her vet. When the vet examined her, she decided to keep her overnight, suspecting a touch of pneumonia. So Maggie spent the night at the vet clinic on oxygen, while her Mom and Dad regretted so much that they couldn't stay with her over night.
They would wait for the vet's phone call telling them it was time to get Maggie and bring her home.
The call came.
It was around 5 in the morning when the phone rang with the news.
Maggie was gone. She just didn't make it.
It was Friday, December 29th. The day before her Mom's birthday. Just two days from New Year's Eve. Just three months away from her turning nine.
Maggie's buried now where she had once had her picture taken with Pat & Betty's grand-daughter Shannon and husband Josh. She's 'guarded' by the iris and the rose. She's traveling to the bridge - the Rainbow Bridge - where all of us will go eventually. It’s there she'll meet others who have gone before her. And it's there she'll meet me one day.
You see - I never had the chance to meet Maggie. My chance was coming up in August at a Mullady Family Reunion - a chance to meet all the cousins! I'm sorry that I didn't get that chance. I'm sorry for the loss of this pup and the pain that her Mom and Dad are suffering through as they are constantly reminded of the 'little white pup' they called their baby.
As soon as our Mom heard the terrible news, she started making a 'marker' for Maggie. It has her name on it with her birthday and the date she left this earth. Mom also heard that there was a new arrival at the Mullady household - called Polly - so she made a nice little 'welcome' sign for Polly-the-Poodle too. I know Maggie's Mom and Dad will love their gifts, although I know they'll probably cry some. It's tough saying 'goodbyes'.
Pat & Betty are doing alright now.
They miss Maggie terribly. They always will.
Yep, losing someone you love is tough. It's a life time of wishing and regret. But it's also a life time of memories of the better days. Memories aren't the same as 'being there', but they help ease the pain a bit.
And Polly-the-Poodle will help ease the pain a bit too. She's not MAGGIE - that's for sure - but she IS loveable and cuddly and LOVES her Dad! She plays with toys more than Maggie ever did - and hasn't yet learned the magical words of 'treat', 'where's the goats' OR 'bathtime', but she will - in time. In time she'll learn all about Maggie and she'll understand why her Mom and Dad will always love and miss her. Polly doesn't have to BE Maggie - she just needs to be a comfort.
And "Hands" says she is. So - yeah - Pat & Betty will be fine. In time.
I wish I had known Maggie.
I think she might have been the best cousin a white pup could ask for! Guess I'll have to wait to meet her at 'the bridge'.
But that won't be for...oh....about a hundred years!
Until then - I'll just learn about her through the legacy she leaves!
