A fond farewell to Ziggy

Hi neighbors. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Now is the week to just sit and digest all that food, play with all those new toys or gadgets and prepare yourself for New Year's Eve.

It might be a good time to ponder our years past and plan our years to come. Sip some coffee or hot cocoa and let your memories bring to life people and beloved pets from your past.

I have always thought it such a terrible thing when a tragedy occurs on a holiday. The holiday is forever tainted with the sad memory of the tragedy. But perhaps that is just a matter of mind-set.

Maybe by concentrating on all the good that proceeded the tragedy, only those good memories will follow us through the years and the anniversary of the former tragedy can become instead a new reason to celebrate the holiday.

This was a Christmas to remember for me. Christmas Eve day I thought I had to work, but it turned out that I didn't. That was a wonderful gift for me.

Throughout my life I have discovered that more often than not, circumstances beyond my control usually turn out for the best.

As it was, this change in my schedule offered me an opportunity to spend the day with my best friend, Ziggy, my little dog.

Returning momentarily to the notion that things turn out for the best no matter how we think they might -- Ziggy was actually my daughter's dog. When she had to move to an apartment, I took Ziggy to live with me.

Ziggy soon became a good friend. She always laughed at my dumb jokes, eagerly followed me wherever I went, was overjoyed whenever I returned home after being gone, and understood the concept of 'quiet time' when I just wanted to read or watch television instead of chase a toy around the room.

Christmas Eve, Ziggy passed away.

I have decided she should not be remembered by those last tortuous hours we shared trying to comfort each other; but by all the years (and there were many) wherein she joyfully celebrated, and graciously shared, her life.

A Miniature Pincher, she was a small dog with an enormous heart. Ziggy was always a friendly and happy spirit. She treated her humans with respect and devotion and a great deal of leniency for their shortcomings.

She would even let the humans win occasionally when playing take-away or fetch with her toys.

When a threat was evident she charged into the darkest room or furthest reaches of the yard barking a warning. With great ferocity she protected the people she loved with a warrior's courage whether the potential threat was an intruder or a trespassing squirrel.

She was always well-mannered and inquisitive, eager to play or happy to just share a moment of reflection. She loved Dari-Queen's pupcups and the trip to pick them up.

No matter how long her day alone had been while I was gone, she always greeting me with enthusiastic forgiveness for my absence.

I believe she knew what love meant, for she gave it freely and received it with quiet gratitude.

She lived her long life with enthusiasm, intelligence, courage and kindness. What a wonderful epitaph for dog or human.

Ziggy's time ended near the ending of the year; a reminder of the passing of time and the loved ones drifting upon that same turbulent river with us.

As painful and difficult as change can be, to resist change is to face stagnation. Ziggy knew that.

A new year will soon be upon us. Let us all face 2008 with enthusiasm, intelligence, courage and kindness.

Until the next time friends remember, whatever 2007 held for any of us, 2008 will hold its own challenges and rewards. Maybe this week will be a good time for each of us to review 2007 and the friends and loved ones (human or animal) that made it special for us. 2008 will be an adventure! Happy New Year to all of you!