R.I.P. Tarci

Today was a very nice day, even though it was the last for some. One of our coolest family dogs passed and she will be missed and remembered forever. My, that crazy creature had the personality and heart of a any human, perhaps even more so. She was an old soul and her passing came quickly - she was fine two days ago, then not so fine yesterday and today, from the early hours when we got there to work, she just lay on the side of the porch, watching us, unable to move. I got her a blankie and dad put a chair next to her and kept trying to feed and water her, but she didn't seem interested. Hard to explain what she looked like. She actually looked thankful. As if: today is going to be a wonderful day. I could not wish for a better last day. 

     There are hundreds funny stories regarding her. G loved her. In fact I thnk we spoke of this a few days and ago and he always pretends not to be fazed by passing, as if it is the most natural part of life. Well, once the news came, he was rather shaken. He said he thought she was just having a bad day. Did you not look at her, I said. I knew immediately. She looked more calm and serene than ever.

      Dad, of course, is being complicated, saying: we've agreed to go together and so on ... He's always had that attitude towards his dogs, somehow refusing to accept the fact 13 years is a venerable age for a Rottweiler. He claimed she was perfectly spry three days ago, when the bees got to her again (ordinarily she had very bad hips and could not walk much anymore, but she was far too brave when it came to bees.) We all came together today to spray the vineyard, and sis covered the barbecue, mum made puff pastry, it was wonderfully sunny and playful and I spent the day moving kindle wood from point A to point B until I could no longer move my arms. We were only fighting a little, as we usually are, crazy family, and the other dogs were barking and nagging for food. The whole while Tara lay, watching us from the porch, alert and involved. She didn't seem like she was in any kind of distress at all, just as if she can't really get up right now, she'll do it later. But a few hours after we've left, sis called and asked me to make an inquiry with a vet neighbour on whether it's legal to bury the dog on a private estate. It's like the General says: no amount of time is enough for someone you love, but if one's gonna come back, they should come back as my parents's family dog: puff pastry every day, orchards and forests, chasing garden snakes and roe deer (more heart than actual talent) barking at hikers and going on slow short walks with our slow short dad. There could never have been a better life for a doggo, even one with bad hips and one who had a stroke due to poisoning years ago. There could hardly have been a better last day.