This Thanksgiving afternoon I lost my English Bulldog Maggie. I’m still in shock and find myself looking for her constantly. She was 11 years old and died peacefully while sleeping in the living room surrounded by my daughters coloring on paper plates around her. She was my first dog and boy was she a royal pain in the ass. I got her right after I graduated from college. She farted on me and it was love at first sight. I spent my single days living in the East Village with Maggie as my steady roommate. Boyfriends and other roommates came and went but Maggie always stayed. She loved to chew up my furniture and walls. She was stubborn and hated walking with anyone but me. I remember countless times that friends had tried to walk her and she flat out refused. It was no easy task to carry a 75lb Bulldog down the street. There are times in my life that I am so grateful to have had Maggie by my side. After enduring a traumatic situation in 2003 I was left with PTSD and somewhat depressed. Maggie helped me to feel safe again because she was extremely protective of me. I don’t know what I would have done with out her during that dark time. When I moved in with my husband Dan she warmed right up to him. It also helped that he had a dog Louie that would soon become Maggie’s other half. I am laughing out loud remembering the time that Maggie tried to hump my stepdaughter when I first moved in. Dan kept asking what was wrong with this dog? Maggie became more protective of me during my first pregnancy with Mia. I remember her trying to go after visitors if they went anywhere near me in the bedroom. She surprised me again by being super gentle with all of my children. She let them climb all over her and drag her around the house. I’m not too sure the kids understand her passing. Mia knows that I am terribly upset over her death and that makes her upset. The 2 year old twins think she went to live in another house. I keep trying to explain her death to them but they really aren’t able to get it just yet. I am sitting here typing this as my kids are all off to bed and its silent. I miss Maggie’s loud snoring that shook the house. I feel like a piece of myself is missing. Damn I loved that dumb dog,
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/mourning-the-death-of-a-pet/
