Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Remembering Rennie


Our best girl came to us in 2005. Amberlove Good Live. It was a great life.

Tully was totally blindsided by this little imp who took over the house the moment she stepped in the door with her big yellow duckie. The stuffed toy was as big as she was, and a constant companion all her life. Rennie was beautiful in every way, stunningly beautiful and a truly happy, gentle, playful soul. She was a one person dog (and I was her person)... although she loved Tim and Auntie Leslie and had her collection of human friends... but she was totally connected to me. And I was totally connected to her, which makes this ever so painful that she is gone.

Rennie came from Roseanne Schweigerath of Socorro New Mexico, and traveled by car from show to show, passed along the way until Tim and I met her at Anne Pickrell’s home in South Orange NJ. This trip solidified Rennie’s LOVE of travel. She went everywhere with us. She loved the yellow MINI as much as Tim and me.

Early on, we (Tim, Tully, Rennie and I) snuggled in our beds. When something went bump in the night Rennie charged up the stairs to protect us all from harm as we laid there wondering what just happened. She had taken over! Poor Tully never knew what hit him.

Rennie never got over sucking on her “Mommie”, her fuzzy bed that she dragged everywhere, and presented as a treasure to anyone who greeted her at the door. It was a prize possession. I had to make her a second one so that I could wash one, while she had the other.

Rennie ruled the roost. She demanded respect and love and attention just about 27/7.  As she got older she got more vocal, just as most post-menopausal women do! HA. Her barking could mean:

1. I need water

2. I need to go out, but you better wait for me because I am coming right back in again.

3. I am hungry (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

4. I need a treat, NOW... we had a large supply of mini treats available at all times to assure the desire.

5. I want to go to bed.

She and I spend almost every hour of every day of her life together. She was my baby and I was her human. It was always hard to go away without her. She would stop eating if I was not around. 

I had to be very careful, if she was upset with me she would eat something of mine.... anything paper that was left in her range. And she loved sponges, oy! Underwear! Always a worry. If there was a flaw, it was that.

Rennie was almost always at my feet or parked in a hallway with me in eyesight.

These 12.5 years have flown by, and the fourth Gordon (after three boys). It amazed me how different it was owning a girl. She was a surprise and a delight, the fierce protectress of our home. I have Gordons almost continuously from 1995 to 2018. 

Our fondest memories are the vacations we took to Maine and Vinalhaven. She was in her prime and so extraordinarily lovely. 

I miss the company in bed at my feet. She was so happy she she finally got to sleep in the big bed. 

I miss the "talking".

 I miss the really quick out to do business and right back inside again because she wanted to be with her "peeps".  I miss brushing her beautiful hair. I miss giving her a bath and watching with delight as she ran all wet about the house. I miss the "Mommie antics".  I miss seeing her on the sofa curled up and comfy. I miss here following me every where I went. I miss her bursting into the bathroom to see what I was doing. I miss the paw slaps when she wanted her kibbles snack at night. I miss her love of cucumbers and the KP she did as we cooked. She was the "veggie dog" - lettuce, carrots, cucumbers. I miss making sure that I did not leave anything out for her to chew. I miss traveling with her. I miss everything about her every day.