Romeo

07/13/2023

My dear friends, how I wish Romeo were here to speak with you yet again; however, his existence is now only in the realm of the Ancestors. Today, he came home for the last time.

His ashes are in a lovely bamboo casket with his name engraved in a brass plate on its surface. I hope some day to spread his ashes at the National Arboretum where we spent so many times exploring the trails together. I'm not there yet. When I do, I will use the bamboo "casket" to house is belongings: Leash, harness, tags, toys.

This is the last post.

07/03/2023

07/03/2023

Well, friends, I'm writing a lot these days, because things are changing for me. I have not felt very good for a few weeks now. My guy had me take more tests about two weeks ago. They all seem to be okay, but still, I don't like food anymore. I don't take my meds anymore. I have lost a good amount of weight, but then I was mucho gordo at the beginning of the year! Two times in the past 10 days, I have visited the vet's for a "treatment". They put a needle in me and give me "fluids" which is like meds. It makes me feel better for a day or two, but then I feel tired again.

Tonight, I tried to climb the stairs because my guy had gone upstairs without me. I know, last night he came down and carried me up, but I didn't want to wait! But it was too hard. I got stuck on the stairs and my back legs wouldn't work right...

My guy heard me and came to help. He carried me to our den and laid down on our mat with me. He rubbed my head and ears and even rubbed my hips and back legs. Then I felt sleepy and laid down.

I feel so tired all of the time...

Thank you for all of your comments to my posts over the years. I feel so lucky to have so many faithful friends.

My guy says there is this place where Ancestors go. They leave their bodies and live on in the minds of those who loved them. That just like when I sleep and dream of my amazing life, I can continue to have adventures in the dreams of others. He told me that some day soon, I may be an Ancestor, too.

07/02/2023

Sleeping in the anemones on a very warm and humid day... Last night my guy carried me upstairs to our bedroom. We always sleep together, and it's nice, but I love when I can sleep on the ground surrounded by plants most.

06/30/2023

How the warmth of the sun, the blanket of humidity, and familiarity of my HOME comfort me. I have always loved resting on the back stoop. How lucky am I? A king with such a generous throne.

06/30/2023

Hello friends... My guy asked me to write tonight to tell you that I've been feeling tired lately. I don't feel like eating. This worries my guy a lot. I do like the sleeping in the sun. I am plenty thirsty enough, but I've stopped taking my "meds". I still like to look outside from the sun room and watch the birds and I am happy when I sleep at night next to my guy on the floor.

I've never been a big eater. Last night I ate some steak that my guy prepared after he barked at me for looking away. Tonight, he made me some more steak, but I didn't want it. He didn't bark at me. I tried not to take the pieces from him, but he kept insisting. So I just took the piece of meet and then gently placed it on the floor.

I don't know why I am not hungry. Neither does my guy, and it's very frustrating to him. I went to the vet last week and all of my tests came back okay--the ones that had been bad in February. He told me that we're going to go back to the vet tomorrow.

06/17/2023

Summertime is nap-time...summer nap-time; not to be confused with spring nap-time, autumn nap-time, or winter nap-time.

05/13/2023

I should do a little catching up... I had some tests done in February because by tummy was up-set. Doctor Verghese also gave a shot. The shot made my tummy settle down, but the test made my guy a little sad and worried. He didn't know what was the best thing to do, and I was feeling better.

In April he made an appointment for me to see another doctor who knew more about dog stuff like this. It was a much bigger place with more people. After a couple of hours and being checked out by Dr. Ludobella, I had some more tests done like the first one in February. My guy said that they would help the Dr. see what had happened between February 17 and April 28. He told me that he had decided not to have a test that Dr. Veghese wanted him to do done, because it wouldn't tell us enough information without another test and they would have to "put me to sleep" for that. He did not want them to do that. This is a little odd, because I love to sleep. Maybe he thought it would be hard for me to sleep where the Doctors work.

Then he got the results back from Dr. Ludobella and all of the parts of the other tests that made Dr. Verghese worry and my guy sad were back to okay, and so there was no need to have any more tests done.

My guy got a new camera (he used his old one until if fell apart...). This is his first official picture of me! I am protecting the flower gardens. I am very good at this...until I fall I asleep!

03/21/2023

The days grow warmer, and that makes me happy.

02/16/2023

Hey! Yesterday was my 11th birthday!

I would have celebrated with some special treat, but my tummy's been up-set for a couple of days... It's not like me. Today, my guy came home from work early and took me to see Dr. Verghese.

I like Dr. Verghese. He is very gentle with me. But I do NOT like when he "takes my temperature!" And today, he also poked me and took some of my blood! I got my ears cleaned, too. The medicine burned a little, but now my ears aren't "itching" like they were.

The last thing was a shot in my belly--it really stung! I was surprised and je**ed a little. My guy told me that it was to help my tummy stop making me sick.

So many things happened, and afterwards, I felt so tired. On the ride home, I fell asleep on my guy's hand. He said to me, "Romeo, getting old isn't easy." Am I getting old? I don't know, but whatever it is, it is not easy.

When we got home, I was not hungry at all. All I wanted to do was sleep on the back deck in the warm sun. My guy let me and didn't make any fuss about.

01/14/2023

In the winter, my guy and I like to sleep. Well, I always like to sleep! But in the winter we sleep more. For a long time now, my guy sleeps on the floor with me. This is our rug-bed. I'm waiting for my guy to join me. We wake up together after about half the night and he gets up into his bed and I sleep on the other side of the rug where he was sleeping. Sweet dreams!

08/08/2022

My latest pic. This summer is hot...