Life is full of surprises . . .

sometimes they are good, other times not so good. I came home from work on Friday to find Callie not doing well at all. I took her to the vet immediately and a blood clot had formed in her heart. Based on her age and other health problems, the observation was made that perhaps what was best for Callie was that she be put down and out of her pain.

That morning had been one like any other . . . she was up and about and her curious self. In the backs of our minds, we knew this day was coming. But it still caught us by surprise and was quite painful. Callie was 20 years old; outlived many a dog; and had a life full of traveling, good food, and comforts desired by any animal. Gary and Deirdre got Callie when Gary was in 4th grade; she spent all four years of college with Gary, spent some time at Mamaw's, spent some time with Gary's Dad, and had been with us for the last two years.

Callie had a very interesting and amusing personality . . . she really was the "top dog" with regards to how she ruled the other animals. She was not afraid of dogs ten times her size. She enjoyed going outside and roaming around. She loved drinking that last bit of milk out of your cereal bowl. She loved to find someone's glass of water (on the coffee or bedside table) and drink out of it, then take her paw and knock it over. That was perhaps her favorite game. She also loved music-especially Weezer's "Sweater Song." Gary could sing this song (and only this song) and from wherever she was hiding or sleeping, she would find him and jump in his lap. She loved drinking water out of the dog's bowl, and the bigger the bowl, the better.

And, like any feline, she fondly relished her naps and time to relax.

Callie certainly lived a very fulfilling life and she will most definitely be missed by all of us. It never ceases to amaze me how each animal we bond with changes our lives in a unique and kindred way. Animals have such a profound impact in our lives and in our hearts; we are truly blessed to even be able to experience this kind of relationship.