The passing of a 4-legged parrothead.
Posted: June 11, 2016 9:48 pm
Last weekend, my beautiful guide dog of a little over 10 years, Ms Sammie, passed away unexpectedly due to a sudden illness. For 10 years Ms Sammie was my eyes, my journey partner, my child, and my best friend. Ms Sammie took her job as a guide dog very seriously, but she did not take herself seriously. When the parrothead wonderful madness started for me in 2007, Ms Sammie happily climbed aboard with me. She traveled with me to several Jimmy Buffett concerts and handled them like a true leading lady. She went with me to MOTM twice, and Key West fell in love with her. She handled Las Vegas better than I did, and on a beautiful May day in 2009 while eating lunch in Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett entered the building. I had a chance to meet him, but most importantly, he and Sammie had a bonding moment.
Over the past few months, Sammie was diagnosed with an eye condition that meant the end of her career sooner than expected. Since I live in an apartment, I wanted her to have the opportunity to be just a dog. I wanted her to have the opportunity to have the big back yard, other dogs to play with, and to simply be a lady of leisure. This plan was in sight, but it was meant for Sammie to go the distance with me. Late last Friday night, she started having seizures after having a wonderful day being out and about with me and having fun. I took her to the emergency vet, blood work was done, and Sammie was in end-stage kidney failure. Sammie passed away peacefully without a struggle in my arms without having to be put to sleep. I held her and sang Mac McAnally's You First to her, and the vet told me I sang her over the bridge. Retirement was not in Sammie's cards. She had a wonderful life, and was my leading lady until the end. She was the best 4-legged parrothead I ever knew.
Today, I brought Ms Sammie's ashes home, and she will be with me forever. She has her own shelf in a beautiful urn surrounded by candles, a couple of toys, her margaritaville T-shirt, and her margaritaville dog food bowl. On the wall hangs a picture that was taken of Ms Sammie and I 2 weeks ago in a park as the sun was going down, and we were walking off into the sunset together.
Jimmy, I don't know if you ever read this board or if someone keeps you up to speed, but if by chance you learn of this, you have played a major role in Ms Sammie's and my journey together. Because of you and your music, we traveled to places that I never would have thought of going to before Ms Sammie, you, and your music came along. You were there for me in 2007 when my mom passed away and my world fell apart. You are here now in 2016 when my leading lady crossed the rainbow bridge and my world has turned upside down. In August, I will be traveling to see you in Pittsburgh without my Ms Sammie, and I will admit that the thought of traveling alone scares me, but I will be surrounded by Parrotheads, and I will be seeing you, so all will be okay. Thank you Bubba for being a big part of Ms Sammie's and my journey together. You are the best.
Over the past few months, Sammie was diagnosed with an eye condition that meant the end of her career sooner than expected. Since I live in an apartment, I wanted her to have the opportunity to be just a dog. I wanted her to have the opportunity to have the big back yard, other dogs to play with, and to simply be a lady of leisure. This plan was in sight, but it was meant for Sammie to go the distance with me. Late last Friday night, she started having seizures after having a wonderful day being out and about with me and having fun. I took her to the emergency vet, blood work was done, and Sammie was in end-stage kidney failure. Sammie passed away peacefully without a struggle in my arms without having to be put to sleep. I held her and sang Mac McAnally's You First to her, and the vet told me I sang her over the bridge. Retirement was not in Sammie's cards. She had a wonderful life, and was my leading lady until the end. She was the best 4-legged parrothead I ever knew.
Today, I brought Ms Sammie's ashes home, and she will be with me forever. She has her own shelf in a beautiful urn surrounded by candles, a couple of toys, her margaritaville T-shirt, and her margaritaville dog food bowl. On the wall hangs a picture that was taken of Ms Sammie and I 2 weeks ago in a park as the sun was going down, and we were walking off into the sunset together.
Jimmy, I don't know if you ever read this board or if someone keeps you up to speed, but if by chance you learn of this, you have played a major role in Ms Sammie's and my journey together. Because of you and your music, we traveled to places that I never would have thought of going to before Ms Sammie, you, and your music came along. You were there for me in 2007 when my mom passed away and my world fell apart. You are here now in 2016 when my leading lady crossed the rainbow bridge and my world has turned upside down. In August, I will be traveling to see you in Pittsburgh without my Ms Sammie, and I will admit that the thought of traveling alone scares me, but I will be surrounded by Parrotheads, and I will be seeing you, so all will be okay. Thank you Bubba for being a big part of Ms Sammie's and my journey together. You are the best.
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