He guarded our home; he danced for his dinner.
     He nudged your arm if attention waned.
     He protected squirrels and loved 'his' kitties.
     He grinned happily from the top of the stairs.

     He loved to romp, and play 'foo-foo doggie.'
     He lived for his walkies with Daddy every night.
     He adored his bossy, adopted 'Big Sister' Quatra
     And was devastated - never the same - when she died.

     He was a good, good dog.
 

                    Blackie
 

     The ol' "Love Pig" is no more.
     No more slimey nose
     Smearing up the sliding door.

     No more grins at the top of the stair.
     No more guarding squirrels,
     Or chasing bunnies out there.

     That forceful nose under your arm
     No more begs your attention and charm.

     His ashes are scattered on a South facing slope
     Giving us courage and a lot of hope
     That his spirit runs free and he again frolics about
     Barking with joy, without any doubt:

               "Hey Quatra! Wait for me!"

       He was a very good dog.  Weebles even thought so.

            Love,
       Robin

Mom and Dad:

     I'm so sorry for OUR loss...  I loved Blackie as much as any one, and I know George and Molly loved their time with him.  He has been a special part of our lives and we will always remember the fantastic walks in the mountains, chasing rabbits and coyotes (and a couple of deer), the excited bouncing waiting for dinner, and the general love he gave to everyone from Ivy to Ian.

 Blackie was always the perfect wingdog!   - and one of the greatest friends I ever had.    I will miss him, and always will remember him.

Doug

What a lovely tribute to Blackie.  I am sad for the earthlings; happy for Quatra and her new
friends.

patti

 Dear Michael,  I, too, was very sorry to hear that Blackie has passed
on to the Happy Hunting Grounds.  He was a good and faithful
friend.
 I'll miss him .... a lot.

        -  Dick

THAT IS SO SWEET, AND I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR BLACKIE IS NO LONGER WITH US.
SUE TOLD ME ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT, NOTHING IS SO HARD AS LOOSING A DEAR SWEET
FRIEND..........LOVE JODIE 

THANK YOU!!!!!!    GRAMMY SUE

oh you guys, i'm so sorry you've lost him.  but i'm
also very very glad that you had such a good dog for
so long.

we love you.

Dear Helen and Mike -  Thinking of you at this sad time. It may be a little corny - but, Blackie was a part of the family - he was even good at being a pest, just like some of the 2-legged members.  Did he somehow get remote lessons from Jerry and Joe -- and other assorted ranch types? Hugs all around.     Love,               Jerry and Barbara Helen -     That's a great poem that you wrote about Blackie - you have a real talent for writing.                               B

Thank you for your beautiful tribute.  I am heartfelt sorry for your loss and understand it completely.
Love and Prayers.

Jacqui and Skeeter and Midge and Amani and Comanche.

    -  Barb Blackledge

Aunt Helen and Uncle Mike,

I am so sorry to hear about Blackie's departure.  It's almost as if I grew up
with him.  He was a great and loyal pup and he will forever remain in
everyone's hearts.

I love you both so much,

Mis 

Love,
Tawny

    What exquisite written tributes to your wonderful lab, Blackie.  Thank you for sharing them.

    I'm delighted that Blackie was a small part of my life, too.  He taught me a lot, even so.

    His fourteen years were a gift to all of us.

     Blackie had a good home and many experiences in his time.  You'll continue to see ghosts and
glimpses of him from the corner of your eye in days and nights to come.  You'll hear his scufflings,
see his wagging tail and feel his nudging nose.  Mike will see him ranging the mountain trails during
a dog walk.  Helen will look down from her cooking and see his uplifted muzzle.

    I'll miss Blackie's moving black elegance, his sedate ways with pain, his warmth toward all
people.

    He was the best.

    Goodbye, Blackie

Love, Penny

We are so sorry and so sad about the death of Blackie.  We were both
touched by your warm and funny and evocative poems.  Blackie was sure
one of a kind.  We'll miss his funny, sweet self when we come to visit you.
His spirit will watch over your home an' romp on his hill an' never stop lovin'
you 'cause you loved him ...

A friend sent me this story today ... I thought you'd enjoy it.

A man and his dog were walking along a road.
The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.  He remembered dying, and that the dog had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road.  It looked like fine marble.  At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.  When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.  When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow!  Would you happen to have some water?"  the man asked.

"Of course, sir.  Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.  There was no fence.
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the reader.  "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there"
The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate.
"Come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.  The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.

"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," was the answer.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said.
"The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?  Nope.   That's  Hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No.  I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."
 
 

posted 30 May 2001; last updated 16 June 2001                                    Return to Mike's Home Page