The Best Good Girl

The rain on my window was hard one day last week. It pounded in a rhythm of threes — tap, tap, tap — that gave me pause. I stopped what I was doing and listened. Tap, tap, tap. It sounded exactly like our dog drinking water. Maxine always drank in threes. We thought it was a bit odd, but figured, as with all references to three, that there must be some Biblical significance to it. Not.

Maxine, snuggles on her favorite chair, thanks to Auntie Sharon

But of course, it couldn’t be Maxine. Maxine left us on February 4th at 11:30 p.m. at Angell Memorial in Jamaica Plain. She straddled both our laps and crossed over. Lots of sobbing. Massive headaches. General shitiness all around.

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. — Will Rogers

Face off! The lobsters never had a chance

That’s why you haven’t heard from me in a few weeks. We are still grieving the loss of our little girl and plan to be doing so for a number of months or more.

We had her for 15 years and she was our only child. A very special furry child who was alternately loving and maddening, amusing and aloof, needy and independent. It was our job to figure out her mood each day and act accordingly. We were very well trained.

Our friends have been wonderful, sending cards and making calls, and installing many hugs on our sad frames. This too shall pass, I know, and a new puppy will help at some point. Our friend Jim says it’s really hard to grieve for your old dog when you’re watching a new puppy doing stupid stuff. I know we’ll experience that, but not right now.

The Best Good Girl and her staff at Christmas

Maxine had aliases. Her formal name was Lady Maxine of the Ozarks, but she was also known as Beanie, Varmsky, Lady Maxine, Lady Meatloaf, Varmit, Waldo Puppercorn, The Bean, Maxeenie Dini Beanie, and to her grandmother — Her Ladyship. She seldom answered to any of them. She was her own dog, for sure.

I know a lot of you have experienced the same thing and I’m sorry for your loss, no matter how long ago it was, because I know nobody ever gets over this. Not really.

At least I’ve got Italy to look forward to. Maybe there’ll be a new addition when we get back. You’ll be the first to know.

Buon viaggio!