Angel Jake at the RBC (Rainbow Broadcasting Corporation)

Angel Jake at the RBC (Rainbow Broadcasting Corporation)

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

JAKE'S GIFT


Four  months. No sign of signature ear!

A favorite spot




























I’ve thought a lot about this since our Jakey left for the Bridge last Wednesday.  Ever since I told my closest friends how sick he was, and then, when the end had come, shared the sad news on his blog and on facebook, and with the fox terrier groups I belong to, I have been graced with such an outpouring of love and caring thoughts that my heart is so full there is almost no room for the tears. Almost.
Another favorite spot.


Welcoming the folks home.

And then it hit me, without Jake … and yes without his brother Just Harry… I would never ever have met all these kind, inspiring people and shared so many funny, sad, heart-breaking, exhilarating, life-changing moments with them and their dogs. My life would be so much poorer.
New brother seems OK.
How did it happen? First there was the wire fox terrier group.  Nigel, Boozle, Linus, Gimlet Rose, Chad, Charlie D., Libby Longtail, Alle and Jack – these were among Jake’s first friends who opened the door to this amazing world of dogs who talk and express themselves and have serious opinions! Then some of Jake’s more adventurous wirey pals, tired of just tearing toys apart and chasing balls, said, try blogging, you’ll like it.
Getting ready for a weatherdog broadcast.
That led to the discovery of Dogs with Blogs, which, when the Barkalot Boyz joined in 2007, had several hundred doggers; but soon grew to more than a thousand. One of Jake’s first pals was Gussie (and Teka) whom Jake zeroed in on because Gussie was wearing a St. Louis Cardinals bandana. Our team!
Learning to cheer for the Redbirds!!
Wearing Cardinal bandanna usually works!
Then he got to know so many others: Wires like Asta, Butchy and Snickers, Lenny, and Jackson; the Airedale contingent like Oscar, Maggie, Sunshade and Jaffa, Bogart, and Gooberstan; others like the Key West Collies, Joey, Wally, Ruby Bleu, Sophie Labrador, the Whippets, Lorenza;  and later Scruffy and Baby Stan and Lacie, Eric Square Dog, Petey, Martha and Bailey, Bertie, Mango and Dexter, Molly and Taffy and Monte and Winnie, Gabbi and her siblings, Khyra, Crikit and Sparky and Ginger, Max, Dewey Dewster and Asta Marie, Wilf and Digby, and  all the others, some still here, some with Jake on the Bridge, looking down and caring for us from on high.
Passover seder with Elijah's cup on the right.

Outside on a Sunday afternoon.
In the beginning, it was all about dogs talking to dogs. Their humans all wore dog masks as far as I was concerned, and that’s how it was supposed to be.  But then Oscar, an Airedale pup we had just gotten to know, died suddenly.  And immediately those dog masks came off as hundreds of real people wrote on his blog to express how devastated they were at his passing.
Prufreding mom's stuff.
Mom's stuff invaded my bench
Years have gone by since that moment. The dogs still talk to each other in their zany ways. But now their humans are dear, dear people whom I have come to love as close friends, family even. And that is Jake’s gift to me and to my husband Jack, his dad.
Dad!
But one more thing. I couldn’t end this without adding Bogie T. Sherman and Ozzie Madison Shpigel to this caring universe that is Jake’s gift to us. They were there to welcome him when he landed at the Bridge. And they have helped and continue to help so many dog families adjust to the reality of their loss, somehow made less of a loss because of Bogie’s and Ozzie’s loving embrace.  Ah, if only the world at large were like our dog world, how much sweeter this earthly journey would be. 


19 comments:

Martha said...

So many lovely pics and memories. Like you I feel blessed to have met so many like minded people.

Even now, when I have been away from blogging, I know these are the 'people' who understand what it is to lose a much loved pert.

I always kinda preferred animals to humans so I am happy to think we are dogs........or cats......or even hammier!

Take care xx

Unknown said...

What a lovely tribute to a great group of friends.

Princess Patches said...

Very well said! Because of our dogs, we have met very caring people all over the world. Not many of us have time to write blog posts anymore, but we still keep up with the same dogs and people on Facebook. Thank goG for ALL of them. Run free, Jakey! We will all miss you.

Aire-hugs,
Patches and Lana

WFT Nobby said...

Hear hear!
Gail and Bertie.

Asta said...

Oh deew, mommi's teaws awe flowing again..but i think they awe teaws of happiness at the memowies that yoow pictoowes and wowds bwought back auntie Joan. Jake did indeed give many mawveloos gifts in his showy littol life..
He will kep giving, even fwom the bwidge...the fwiendships awe fuwwevew
Smoochie kisses
Asta

Noodles About said...

We too are so very grateful for the lovely friends we made through blogging with
Jackson
a few of whom we have now met in real life ;)

I can remember Oscar's passing and the huge effect it had on our DWB community. Hard to believe it was in 2007, so long ago!

Still holding you, Jake and family in our thoughts and hearts,

xxxx

How Sam Sees It said...

I feel the same way - the love we've gotten since Sam passed on Friday was been wonderful.

Dewey Dewster said...

I can tell ya.......Jake 'n Just Harry's Mom that ya have Gram cryin' like a baby.....yes siree. We are all sure gonna miss Jake.....but I gotta admit that if ya think about 'em runnin' free at the rainbow bridge with all doggies that welcomed 'em, ya have ta smile a bit too. Yer picture 'n special word tribute ta him just makes that smile disappear fer a tiny bit cause sadness creeps in when ya see how happy he was livin' with ya and how happy ya were bein' his family. When I close my eyes at night, I will think of Jake and when I look up at the beautiful sunsets that we see in Florida, I will know that Jake had a part in brinigin' us those special colors, the twinkle in those bright stars and the beauty of those fluffy clouds. Now if only he could send me some real challengin' vermin ta exterminate, I would sleep like a baby.

Dewey Dewster here.......

Molly the Airedale said...

So many wonderful memories and so many forever friends ♥
What a beautiful post!

Gus said...

Knowing the dogs and their humans has been such a wonderful experience. I am so glad Gussie taught me how to blog.

b

KEY WEST COLLIES said...

I felt the same way when Deacon crossed. So many cyber-paw pals spent a few minutes of their time to console us. It meant so much.

Dog Dad

Two French Bulldogs said...

Memories are good of adorable Jake
Benny & Lily

White Dog Blog said...

Our blogging family is filled with the most amazing two- and four-legged beings in the Universe. We are truly blessed to all have each other. Jake will live on in the hearts and memories of every single on of us his story touched, the ones who have followed from long ago and those of us who just met your boy. Thank you for sharing, and continuing to share your journey and Jake's and Harry's.

TwoSpecialWires said...

What a beautiful, wonderful, heartfelt tribute. What a blessing we all share. What a lovely family you are.

With much love,
Fergi and Jake and OurMoma

White Dog Blog said...

Thank you for your kind words about our WDA. It is so thoughtful of you and we are so glad you and Harry are going to carry on Jake's legacy by continuing this wonderful blog.

Autumn in Florida must be subtle indeed, but momma thought the same when she first moved to New Mexico from Chicago. Over time we have discovered that the seasonal cycle is here, just different...like the sight of first snowfall on the nountains.

Dexter said...

A wonderful post. I, too, have enjoyed getting to know some of the humans behind the dogs with blogs and it is a wonderful community of people who love their dogs and know how much our pets mean to us. Thinking of Jake and all the friends with him whom we miss so much.

Mango Momma

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Maybe Jake's gift will inkhlude a big parade in THAT city in MO -

Just sayin'

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Yes, we know the power of blog humans - thanks to them, we had our 2503 mile Trek to The Tundra - and got to meet Bricey and Eva and Summi and The Crew and KhadyLyn and Thor and Marco Polo!!! and oh yes, their humans!

roughseasinthemed said...

I guess we are a bit distanced from everyone these days (literally as well I suppose), it doesn't help that I chose to leave blogger which is where so many of our original friends started off. Plus I chucked Facebook too as I thought it was eating into my real life time. Such as it is.

And like many of us, sometimes there isn't a lot to bark. Yet, it's nice to catch up, although not so nice to do it in sad circumstances. After three internet free months in Spain with Snowy (waiting for his jabs before he could travel to Gib) it is with a heavy heart that I read not just about Jake, but also a number of other dogs who have recently gone to the Bridge. All we can hope is that they are happy and at peace.

World of Animals, Inc said...

Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. We just love the welcoming the folks home photo. Have a wonderful rest of your day.
World of Animals