My Dog Maggie
April 28, 1999 - September 3, 2005 I know people say that all dogs are special, but Maggie was really, really special to her family and all those who came to know her over her 6 years and 4 months on this Earth. Perhaps it was her two near death experiences (first when she bloated as a puppy in the summer of 1999 and then when she began wasting away in the spring of 2004 from an auto-immune disease), or maybe it was because she was just so gosh darn, cotton pickin' cute.
Maggie could light up just about anybody's day, and did so frequently. Sitting outside of a Caribou Coffee (whether in MN or VA), Maggie would regularly attract attention from dozens of passers by, each and every one wanting to know the same three things:
- What's her name;
- How much does she weigh; and
- How much does she eat?
It was hard for anyone to walk by without stopping to say hello, pat her head, and remark about how big her paws were. Toddlers especially would ooh and ahh with delight as Mom or Dad gently guided their fingers over Maggie's soft-as-teddy-bear fur. Young women were remarkably open about their weight ("Wow! She weighs three pounds more than me!"). And I can't begin to count the number of times I heard, "We grew up with St. Bernards and used to jump on their backs and ride them all over the farm..."
Yes, Maggie had quite the life. Wikipedia describes 'The Life of Riley' as an ideal life of carefree, bountiful, yet humble living. If anyone lived the life of riley, it was Maggie. She spent untold thousands of hours at her Dad's feet, looking up every 10-15 minutes for a tummy rub and for someone to tell her how pretty she was. At different times in her life she had Winston (her younger half-brother), Saxon (a Chartreaux cat and Maggie's constant companion) and Dhara (a Burmese cat), to keep her company when no humans were around.
When Mom wasn't around, Maggie would put her front paws up on the bed and wait for Dad to lift up the rear. Then she and Saxon and Dad would cuddle for 10-15 minutes, until Maggie decided the bed was too hot and too soft for a long-haired St. Bernard. No matter though, the next night she'd be back to do it all over again.
In addition to being a wonderful, wonderful companion, Maggie's claims to fame included being a calendar girl for the Greater Twin Cities St. Bernard Club Calendar, posing with Dad for a front page photo in Finance & Commerce, and regular admiration and treats from MN Supreme Court Justice Alan Page during his morning runs around Lake of the Isles.
I've posted photos of Maggie throughout her life below. I invite you to add your own Maggie comments and stories. To do so, send me an email, or simply click on the 'comment' link below each posting.
Maggie will be sorely missed by her family (including Saxon, Dhara, and Winston), friends, neighbors, vet clinic staff, and more. Still, we were blessed to have her with us for as long as we did, and look forward to seeing her again at The Rainbow Bridge.
We love you, Maggie!
Eric, Laura, Saxon, and Dhara
posted by Eric P. Strauss @ 9/04/2005 12:37:00 AM
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