Reba - Very Sad News

I posted this a few days ago on my other blog... and still it took me awhile to face coming here to Reba's Run to pass this news along here. It is with deep sadness that I do so now.

On Sunday, July 18, I had to have Reba, my beloved dog and companion, put down. She had cancer and when a tumor on her shoulder burst open she was uncomfortable and I knew the time had come. It has been very difficult, and yet I know it is the best for Reba Jane Rottenweiler. She was such a great dog and I was blessed to share about 11 1/2 years of my life with her. Reba was born December 14, 1998 and came to live with me at approximately 7 weeks of age. We had a challenge at the start as I just couldn't seem to bond with this dog and felt I should get rid of her.... she just wasn't the right dog for me. Thankfully, I spoke to my next door neighbor about this and she pointed out to me that the problem was ... Reba was not D-O-G.

D-O-G (pronounced dee OH gee) was a Belgium Tervern. I didn't know her exact birth date, so chose a day that would be very close... February 2 - Ground Dog Day. She too came into my life at about 7 weeks of age and shared my life for about 11 1/2 years. She only went onto the highway one time and that was enough. She died instantly when she was hit August 27, 1998.

I had loved D-O-G very deeply and we went everywhere together from the first moment we met. She was the best dog in the world!! Nearly 5 1/2 months later, when I got Reba, I thought I had healed and as it turned out, I hadn't. I still miss D-O-G today, nearly 12 years later. Once my neighbor pointed out that Reba was not D-O-G, I realized that somehow I had been holding that against her and I needed to love her for who she was. That was very easy from that moment on. I did love Reba for who she was and I know I will always love & miss her like I do D-O-G. I have been very blessed to have 2 such wonderful dogs share my life.

I don't think I can live without a dog for long after those 2 girls. I was a confirmed CAT person, thank you very much, with no desire to have a dog... until I met D-O-G and she forever changed my life. Now I know the total, unconditional love and adoration of a good dog and know I will one day have to have another one to not only love me the way these 2 did, but also to honor the love and memories I have for D-O-G and Reba.

It's amazing how many people loved my Reba from the moment they met her. She really was an incredible girl and showed many people that Rottweilers aren't all 'killer dogs', but can also be filled with love and be filled with joy at the chance to share that love even with strangers.

In Love & Light
Reba's Mom 'Bean
Alice

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Naturally

It is important for the health to get some sunshine as that is where your body gets Vitamin D. Sunshine can brighten your life not only physically but also mentally. As an added bonus, sunshine is a natural acne treatment. I prefer to do things naturally whenever possible and the older I get the more I understand the importance of doing it this way rather than going to doctors for drugs.

I like to drink a lot of tea and much of it has health properties of some sort. One of my favorite teas is Rooibos, especially the Georgia Peach Rooibos. Rooibos, or African Redbush, tea is high in antioxidants and other good-for-you stuff... all naturally.

I have always tried to keep the thistles from growing in my yard and last year thought I had them almost eradicated. This year I have a whole big crop of the things. I have been thinking I should go dig them out or chop them down or something to get rid of them... and then a light came on. Thistle Tea!!! So I have done some research on it and yes it has some good health benefits!! What do you do when Life gives you lemons?? You make lemonade, of course... and when Life gives you an abundant crop of thistles, you make thistle tea. I plan to do more research on this yet and am thinking it might be a great idea to bag up a bunch of thistle tea and go to Farmer's Market to sell it.



The above has been: Human Input by Reba's Mom 'Bean


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Still Here...

Whoof!! Thanks fur coming by to visit this old dog. I have not been feeling so well later and I think I have something that even vitamins won't help. I have a big huge lump on my left shoulder. It doesn't hurt but it feels 'weird' on there. I know that the 'life expectancy' of rottweilers in 8-12 years. I was born December 14, 1998 so that makes me just over 11 1/2 years old. Yup, I'm on the far end of my life expectancy and I've had a good, full life. Mom and some of our friends always thought I would outlive the expectancy, that I had a few years left here yet. I think that would have been right if it wasn't fur cancer. That has cut my life short.

Mom has been working to make a 'furever bed' fur my body to rest in fur eternity after my spirit leaves it and 'goes home'. I've watched her doing some of it and have gone and checked it out. So far it looks good, and it looks like a lot of work. You see, cuz of pain and such, Mom has let this place get real overgrown and so there are lots of weeds and thistles and burdocks and wild roses and spreading juniper that have to be cleared away. Mom now has enough cleared to be able to dig in the dirt to make my body's furever bed. Now she has to do lots of digging in hard ground. Dan said he'd come help Mom but hasn't done that yet and Mom wants to get it done.... just in case my time to leave comes soon. It gets real hot in the afternoon so she likes to do the work in the morning. Today she had to go to her TOPS meeting, then to visit Nan (her Mom). Tomorrow she has a Dr. appointment in the morning so can't work out there fur very long. She's going to be gone all day Saturday too. She better get this done real soon!!! I'm starting to hear God & the Angels calling me home and will have to go to them soon.

Dumb Guy

Mom had a date for this evening. She met this guy at work back in the '80s (whatever that means... I think it was long time before I was born anyway). The been kinda friends all those years and he's been looking and looking fur Mom. She gave up her land line so even if he thought to look in the phone book he wouldn't be able to phone her. He says he's been going to meat draws and auctions, places he knows she goes sometimes, looking fur her, even drove to the pool lots looking fur her truck. The other day she decided to phone him and he told her all this. He said he'd call her at 5pm today when he got off work and they'd go out. It's now 7:14 and no call. Mom is not impressed. She has now made other plans, to go out woof Wendy fur tea. She thinks that human growth hormone supplements are more exciting and intelligent than men that stand up a woman fur a date. If he calls her, now that he has her phone number, he better have a real good excuse or he's written off. NEXT!!!

I'm Still Here.

Hi everyone. I am still alive today!! In fact, I felt good enough to chase that silly cat today, so this shows I am holding my own here. Yes, it was a nasty thing what happened to me, Mom 'Bean thinks it was a heart attack, but I'm still here fur now and Mom won't let me suffer. She loves me too much to let that happen... and she believes 'life after death' is way better than life here on earth is, even though life on earth is great.

The other day Mom 'Bean took her drivers test on her trike motorcycle. When she got there, there was a young boy that was taking a test too, but maybe in a car, she's not sure. She told me he looked like he was a goalie fur a dart team and was doin' a good job cuz he had a real messed up face. All sores all over it. Sounds to me like he needs some best acne products. She saw him again when she got back from taking her test, about an hour later. She wondered if he passed his test like she did hers.

Every day you are still on this side of the grass is a good day. ARF.

All About Reba

Human Input...

As Reba's Mom 'Bean I think I will be needing some under eye cream for dark circles. This would be due to lack of sleep, worry, and grief.

Last night Reba had a bad seizure/stoke. For more info on this you can read about it here. She is okay though not at all well today. My very wonderful dog is not long for this world. Everyone that has met Reba has loved her, she has such a fabulous, loving personality. I am not the only one that will soon be missing her, just the one that will miss her the most. For now though she is still alive and I have phoned in and canceled my Volunteer job for today. I feel it is more important to stay home and look after my dog. Not that I can do much if anything for her other than be here and love her, but at least I can do that. I can't cancel my Motorcycle Road Test that is booked for today so will ride to town later and do that, but for now I'm home with my dog.

What I like

Some of my dog friends really like playing woof their toys. I never have been much interested in that kind of thing. Mom has tried to get me to play woof balls and stuff like that and I have humored her a little bit, but mostly just can`t work up any enthusiasm fur the things. I just like to walk woof Mom, have her and some of my other human friends pet me, and of course, play woof my dog friends. I also like eating dog cookies. Go figure. Oh ya, I like ice cream too.