our beloved canine daughter passed away yesterday, 12-26-06.

My wife, Laurie, and I were not able to have children together, though I had two daughters from a previous marriage. We did not get to spend as much time with the girls as we would like, due to a schizo ex, so Ollie Ann came into our life and filled that void completely.

She was a lost and lonely little puppy that followed my wife to the back door of her work one morning 10 years ago. She was so skinny and frail but still, just as cute as she could be. We took her home, and proceeded to kill all the worms that she had and get her healthy. She was a beautiful Chow/Golden retriever mix, loyal, protective, and the love of our lives. She was our constant companion, and a fantastic older sister to her younger brother Stanley (another mix stray that was following the mailman one day several years later). After a couple of days of "rough" times, she welcomed Stan to her home and shared Laurie and I with him unconditionally......just as she loved us.

My heart is very heavy, and I feel like I could burst into tears at any second.......this level of pain is almost unbearable.

I made Ollie a nice casket, and buried her in her favorite place in our yard, where she will always be able to look out the gate and down the driveway.....and where she would always be setting when I came home from work. Laurie's sister and her husband came over to help us through it and we made a little tradition that we plan on observing each year. My bro-in-law had gone to the b/m and picked up two Makers Mark tubos cigars, and after we buried Ollie we cracked open a couple of beers and lit those two stogies.....smoked, drank, and remembered all the things that Ollie had done for us and the things we would remember about her.

We made a solemn vow that this tradition would be repeated each year on December 26, and we would put the bands from the sticks we smoked into one of the glass tubes from this year. If the cigars we smoke in the future years are tubos of any kind, we will destroy them, and only keep the bands. Just like there was only one OLLIE, there can only be one memorial tubo.

I am sorry for the long post, but to all who read this, I appreciate you allowing me to share some of my pain with you........I am lost and hurting very badly. It is almost impossible to concentrate on anything as EVERYTHING makes me think of my girl.....!!

Jamie