Thank you to Angel Tommy, sweet Freddy, and their dad Steve, the kindest man we know for this loving tribute to Pocket. It means the world to us.
Also thank you for all the friends who took time to comment and cheer us up. It is very much appreciated. You all are the best.
It is I, your little Pocket Dog. I am having a fantastic time at Sleep-Away-Camp. You were brilliant to send me here. Honestly, I was hiding a big secret from you. Before I went to camp, I was feeling poorly. I kept pooping; my mouth hurt, I had trouble peeing. As soon as I arrived, I felt better; it must have been something in that river I swam before arriving at camp.
And get this! All my angel friends are here, led by Foley! She was wearing her judge clothes and looked so silly I had to laugh. She made me take the Sleepy Time Camp oath, and then everyone cheered. I felt like a princess.
Boy, did it rain after that! Foley told me that the raindrops were tears shed when people found out I went to camp. Most of them were yours. I guess parents do miss their kids when they go to camp. I felt terrible that you were upset and wanted to go home. Foley told me I couldn’t but that we could visit.
She took me to this bird store and picked out two bodies, then paid the proprietor a bag of seed. The next thing I knew, I was a hummingbird! Foley taught me how to fly. It was challenging, but once I got the hang of it, I was soaring.
Foley told me to follow her, and we flew for a long time until we came to familiar butterfly bushes. I realized I was home again and seeing things from a whole new perspective. I had so much fun chasing Foley around the yard, just like we used to when she lived with us. I saw you in the window, and I felt terrible that you looked so sad. I fluttered my wings at you to signal I was happy at camp and thankful you took my pain away. I hope you noticed.
Not all camp life is fun. Before Foley let me come here, she made me promise that I would become her clerk of courts. Foley is a sleepaway camp judge. I thought it had something to do with picking the winner of pie and pig contests, but apparently, camp members come to her when they have disputes, and she decides who is right. I guess she is cut out for it because she is never wrong. Just ask her. Anyway, whoever had the job before I did was terrible. It might take me all summer to get caught up.
I share a tiny house on the river with Foley, and I met my predecessors, Jax, Sky, Copper, and Blake. It was a true honor to get to know them all. I can see why you loved them so much. Jax is going to teach me how to blow things up: It sounds like fun.
I asked Foley when I could go home, and she said, not today or tomorrow, but since time moves quickly here: Soon. And she said you and Daddy would arrive seperately, but the way Daddy drives, who knows? Then, when we are all together at camp, we will return home, to a land called Happily Eve After.
I am looking forward to that.
I know parents are sad when their dogs go to sleepaway camp. I don’t want you shedding tears. I am all better now. I am at a place where nothing scares me, and I will never have an upset tummy again. Most of all, I am with friends and won’t be sick or in pain
Like all kids at camp, once we were separated, I realized how much I loved you. You are the best mom anywhere. I was a special needs dog with a small bladder, weekly diarrhea, and fear of loud noises. A lot of moms would have given up on me, but you never did. Thank you for giving me the best life any dog had ever lived.
Foley says that we will visit you in your dreams soon, and we will keep doing it until camp ends, and I am with you again.
It just won’t be today or tomorrow and It will be that way for a long, long time.
But I can handle it. You gave me what I needed to survive and everything that made me Little Pocket Dog. I will be thankful for ever.
Love Pocket Dog
I knew the day would come. I could see it, first in the distance, like dark, gathering storm clouds, then each day, it came slightly closer. I used all my angel powers to keep the storm at bay, but in the end, I failed, and the dog I most tried to prevent from coming to the Bridge arrived today: My dear, sweet sister Pocket.
I have never claimed to be a sharing dog. Remember how I used to torment Pocket by stealing her ball and sitting on it? I must admit I wasn’t a perfect sister, at least when we were mortal. My jealous streak could overtake my entire body. And when I became a Judge and went to the Bridge, I helped her battle her frequent health issues. I told you I did it because I knew your heart would be broken when this day came, but also I was enjoying being Pocket free.
Pocket has been like a photo left out in the sun for the past three months, slowly fading away. I couldn’t tell you how much she was suffering. That was a promise I made to her. If you had known her kidneys and other organs were failing, you would have made sure she wasn’t suffering by sending her to me. But, all Pocket wanted was to be with you, and I promised not to let you know her truth.
When I lived with her, I thought Pocket was a whiney wimp, reacting in pain and fear to everything. But, when I left, and she became the protector of your heart, I grew impressed with her. Then she got sick and hid it every day from you.
That is when I knew I misjudged her. My little sister Pocket, all five pounds of her, was the fiercest dog ever and was driven by her love for you.
As much as Pocket tried to hide the effects of her illness, her body betrayed her: First with diarrhea, then with blood added to it, then an inability to go more than a few hours without going to the bathroom. Also, she didn’t have the energy to walk across a room. Her appetite abandoned her, and all she had the strength to do was sit on your lap. I knew it was her time.
But, she is still a stubborn little wench and refused. She said she could put up with any pain for you. I had to provide a reason for her to join me, so I offered her a job as Chief Clerk of Rainbow Bridge. Truthfully, I never had a better assistant than Pocket and could surely use her help.
She lifted her little head and asked, amazed, “You need me?
I told her, of course, I did. She had saved you after I passed, and it was time for her to save me. I told her that River Song could handle our parents. Pocket had trained her perfectly. Most of all, I said that all songs usually end sadly, but the final notes shouldn’t be the only ones you remember. It should be all the beautiful happy notes before that when the song was new, fresh, and young.
And that is when she agreed to join me at the Bridge. All her pain and suffering would end, and she would feel like a puppy again.
I could tell you about her arrival, but she said as soon as she can learn how she will recount it to you. I don’t want to steal her spotlight. I am afraid I may have already done that more than once.
So, Dear Sweet Mommy, don’t be sad because Pocket is young and healthy again. All her pain is gone, all suffering has diminished, and she feels nothing but love for you and her friends who took time out of their lives to pray for her show your great compassion.
I know the road before you is dark and heartwrenching as it should be when you lose something that you loved with all your heart and loved you even more. Pocket and I are together again, and we will guide you through the darkness in your dreams, and River will while you’re awake.
You are with the best moms, the best of women, and we thank you down to the bottom of our paws.
Now the dynamic duo that sprung onto the Internet in 2007 with tails of wild exploits and daring-do have reunited, I can’t imagine the mischief we will create. And the Big Guy better look out because my sister is here, and together we can’t be stopped.
Only three hours after her passing, I returned with Pocket to our yard as hummingbirds, and we played in the butterfly bushes while you watched from the window. Pocket picked up borrowing bird’s bodies quickly, but she wanted to see you before the end of the night and to give you a wing flutter of thanks.
Pocket could sure use some prayers and good thoughts. She has been fighting a nasty case of diarrhea that she can't shake. She must have gone 100 times today. She is either sleeping or pooping. The vet gave her some medication but didn't examine her. We called another vet today who said you have to wait for the treatments to work. But, she is in so much pain, fragile, and miserable. It breaks my heart. In 14 years, Pocket has overcome a lot of obstacles, but this is her biggest one. Thank you.
I, Pocket, recently had to go on Flagyl to try and stop my diarrhea summer.
What medications are you on or have you taken?
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