The Funny Pages - Tickle Me Elbow - The Original

[elye]

Susie....

BAH on this horrid cyberspace stuff...virtual hugs are not what you need, it's real ones...but all I can do from here is

((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

...Many, many of them, when you need one.

It is a crazy, wonderful thing, isn't it, how we really do get to become good, even close, friends, through the power of words. You are, really, all my friends. I think about you often, worry for you, and certainly, right now, grieve with you, Susie.

You absolutely did the right thing, at the right time. Try not to doubt this, as irresistable as it is. That beautiful girl of yours was ready to go. You had to do it, a very brave and selfless thing. You are in my prayers!

[blueeyedmanda]

Oh Susie (((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

You are in my prayers....poor baby....

I know it was a hard choice to make but she is in a better place right now and without pain....you did the right thing. I wish I could be there with you, even though I am here, I have you in my mind and my thoughts.

[CarlaB]

I'm so sorry, Susie.

[jerseyangel]

Susie,

I have tears in my eyes as I type this.....

You did the right thing, and you were a perfect mom to her--right to the end. I believe with all my heart that Tika is now running free of pain with a great big smile on her face.

Like the rest of the group, I wish I could be there with you, but I am sending the biggest hug to you. Love ya

[~alex~]

Susie you have all the prayers that I can give.

I know that there are few words of comfort but I am terribly sorry for the loss of such a wonderful companion. I will be praying that the horrid pain of loss will slowly give way to the sweet memories of 14 years that I'm sure you have.

Tika was incredibly blessed to have you as her human friend.

[nikki-uk]

Susie - I am so sorry babe ....she is at peace now

Thinking of you {{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[nikki-uk]

This was posted for me (by Nini...anyone remember her?) when my best ever cat Felix died

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

[jerseyangel]

Nikki

[DingoGirl]

oh my sillies........thank you.

I am doing better.....have talked with many friends/family this morning......Tika's nanny, Lauren, is coming to "babysit" me this afternoon, as is my mom. I have finally stopped crying, and am just savoring the memories of my girl.....bear with me here as I ramble on......

As my friends have pointed out, she had the BEST life......she was a fierce mountaineer, back when we were both badasses, spending the first four years of her life traipsing through the Sierra, when mommy was a crazed climber girl - hiking, climbing, camping, cross-country skiing.....I got her when she was nine weeks old; I was heavily involved in climbing then, and she went everywhere with me....in fact, she was such an intense and active dog, it was quite necessary to take her to the Sierra as often as possible, just to tire her. When I climbed, she would panic and whine as I ascended my routes......so she began scrambling up after me. The things she would climb - - mygawd, it was truly astonishing - all the climbers would gape in awe as she scrambled up some granite monolith adn wasn't able to downclimb - I would actually have to retrieve her from these places.......she was a FIERCE and sure-footed mountain goat!!!!!! She went on more than a half-dozen volunteer trips with the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew, where she has been featured in many trip photos, wearing her pearls, around the campfire or on the job site. She has even been to Yosemite, where dogs aren't entirely allowed.......but she was there as a young girl many times.

And then, she had seven years at the beach........mygawd, we went to the beach five days out of seven, frollicked with SO many dogs on Carmel Beach, she scrambled the cliffs at the back while all other dogs were in the water - it was a sight to behold and people would stop and stare, laughing as she chased the ground squirrels through the boulders. (did somebody say SQUIRREL?????) We hiked in the Ventana and Big Sur Wildernesses at least one weekend every month, for years, even getting a $250 ticket for hiking on forbidden lands (reduced to $50 by mommy's imploring of the judge).

She held a job for nearly four years as the Tasting Room Greeter, she (and later Annie) was WILDLY popular and held a cult following, even making it into the Talbott Vineyard newsletter. Children AND adults could be seen, on the floor, wineglasses in hand, playing with her with her many toys, while they chatted happily and tasted wines. The tasting room is in Carmel Valley, and this is where she discovered one of her enduring joys - LIZARDS. She became rather famous for a very distinct type of concentrated "stomping" in the gardens there, as she tried to "flush out" the lizards - head jerking back and forth from the prey to her audience, tail jerking in the air, and tongue wagging, with a huge smile.....it was spectacular to behold - until finally a customer, one of the regulars, named it the Tonkanese Lizard Stomp - the name stuck, she was famous, and customers began to request this performance.

Tika even had her own nanny - Lauren, who is like a little sister to me. We met Lauren ten years ago in Monterey, and we are SO lucky that Lauren is from the San Joaquin Valley, as she also returned to live here. They co-authored, as many of you know, two books together.....it was Lauren who first placed the strand of pearls around Stinker's neck for their outings all over the Monterey Peninsula, as Nanny Lauren would pick Tika up while I was at work, put her in the car, and go.......shopping, walking, to the beach, eating tacos, adn even to school: Tika actually attended classes and was widely known in the film department of CSU Monterey Bay.

Three years ago we moved back here......she had many, many more trips to her beloved places in the Sierra Nevada.....but best of all, in her declining years, when hiking was no longer easy, we had an orchard, right down the road, where we romped almost every single day, rain or shine.

No dog could have had a better life.......and she DID go at the right time, it wasn't going to get any better.

Yes, Emily, you have said it well, you are all such dear friends. This is such a special place, we MUST win the lottery and have a Silly Gathering!!!!!!

Please, carry on with the silly.......I need it.

p.s. that is the most OUTSTANDING photo of Gus the badass snow poodle!!!!

[elye]

Wow, the tears they are a'fallin'.....

[jerseyangel]

Wow--what a life Tika led! She really has left her mark on the world--and the many people she touched.

Thank you for sharing her remarkable story with us

Yes....someone must win the lottery or something so we can all meet in person.

[elye]

Gee...Might be good time to put a call in to my dad, wouldn't ya say?

[jerseyangel]

Wow, the tears they are a'fallin'.....

I know

[jerseyangel]

Gee...Might be good time to put a call in to my dad, wouldn't ya say?

I would say this is the perfect time

[Green12]

Wow Susie Q,

Tika was such a special spirit, and what an extraordinary life she led!!

I always have enjoyed the countless stories you have shared about her the last few years on the forum. They always brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

You were lucky to have had her in your life, and she lucky to have you. The perfect match!!

[elye]

I always have enjoyed the countless stories you have shared about her the last few years on the forum. They always brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

Me, too, Susie!

From my dad: (We'll all have to excuse the dated nature of the setting...not too many telegram centres around anymore!)...

On a slow day with few customers, a clerk at a telegram office looks down from her counter and sees a dog waiting in line.

"Oh, aren't you cute?" she says. "What would you like me to put on your telegram?"

"Bow wow wow, Bow wow wow," the dog replies.

The clerk says in a cutesy voice, "But you can add another 'Bow wow wow' for the same price."

The dog responds, "Now, wouldn't that sound a little silly?"

[jerseyangel]

The dog responds, "Now, wouldn't that sound a little silly?"

[Darn210]

Life lessons learned from a dog

1. If you stare at someone long enough, eventually you'll get what you want.

2. Don't go out without ID.

3. Be direct with people; let them know exactly how you feel by pissing on their shoes.

4. Be aware of when to hold your tongue, and when to use it.

5. Leave room in your schedule for a good nap.

6. Always give people a friendly greeting. A cold nose in the crotch is most effective.

7. When you do something wrong, always take responsibility (as soon as you're dragged shamefully out from under the bed).

8. If it's not wet and sloppy, it's not a real kiss.

[Judyin Philly]

HI MY DEAR SUSAN.

I'M SO GLAD THAT PATTI TOLD ME ABOUT TIKA SO I COULD JUST CALL YOU.

I JUST FINISHED READING YOUR WONDERFUL TRIBUTE YOUR DEAR BUDDIE.

I'M SO GLAD THAT I TALKED TO YOU BEFORE READING.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT YOU AND ANNIE.

GLAD NIKKI POSTED THE 'RAINBOW BRIDGE' POEM. I WAS GOING TO TRY TO FIND IT FOR YOU.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

HUGS TO YOU AND PATS AND HUGS TO ANNIE TOO.

LOVE JUDY

[blueeyedmanda]

It sounds like Tika led a wonderful life and has touched many people. It also sounds like she led a very fun and exciting life, beach, mountains, she really did a lot of activities. :)

The rainbow bridge is such a moving passage, I am glad Nikki posted it, very beautiful

[Erica94]

oh, susie... i think you did the right thing, but poor babies...

here's a quote i found a while ago that i really like, and i think it applies

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

i think tika did just that

[tarnalberry]

oh Susie, I'm very sorry.

[happygirl]

Susie-----I'm so sorry, but I think you are right......your sweet puppy lived a GREAT life with a great mama!

[Mtndog]

SusieQ- you have all the prayers and love we can muster up (and that's a LOT!). :wub: As I told my friend Hannah who just lost Flash, you gave her the BEST life! She is, without a doubt, in a land where she can frolick endlessly in the snow, climb up monoliths of granite, chew on juicy bones and watch over you at night from the coziest dog bed, surrounded by stars.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

I love this!!!!

[Ridgewalker]

Susie,

I'm so sorry to hear about Tika. What a beautiful, sweet, and wonderful girl she was! The Rainbow Bridge says everything I'd want to say, and says it better. Big (((HUGS))), and I wish I could give them in person.

-Sarah