Goodbye Tino

Today we had to say goodbye to Tino. It was hard. So hard.

Tino was a great dog. And he had an incredibly long life. Sixteen years. Unheard of...He came home to us from the SPCA in 1995, before we had Tianna or Nicole. We named him after Tino Martinez, the baseball player when he played for Seattle. We threatened to change the dog's name when Martinez was traded to the Yankees... I took him to the vet this morning. I was so blessed that one of the vets, who is also a friend, heck, I taught their prenatal class come to think of it...came out of surgery to take care of Tino, and us today.

He took one look at him and said, "It's time. It's hard. But he is tired and ready to go." But I had promised Nicole I wouldn't let him go without her, so Tino stayed at the vet until we came back after school. It was too hard for him to get in and out of the car.

How could I be saying goodbye again? Deciding to let go? Deciding what to do with ashes...the tears came, and came. Nicole, Matt and Carolyn were with me and Tino. It was Marley revisited. But it was swift and I was assured painless. I hope so. How do they know?

My mom enjoyed Tino's company and it gave her something to do. Now he is gone too...they did an ultrasound and told us he was riddled with tumors. He also is in a better place. It sounds so cliche. We miss him, but I think my dad is waiting for him.

Jesus is carrying me. There is no other way.

Peace. Love much. It is most important that you do.

My Very Own Marley (and then some)

Meet Tino. He is my dog. He came home one afternoon in 1995 without any input or permission for that matter from anyone else in the family. Maybe not the best move, but it was successful. I couldn't resist his doleful eyes when I met him at the SPCA back then. Of course the logical question is what on earth I was doing at the SPCA in the first place if I wasn't pet hunting. I was visiting, and happened to fall in love, that's all. It was innocent enough and love at first site. We named him after baseball player Tino Martinez when he was still a Seattle Mariner. When he got traded to the Yankees we gave serious thought to renaming the dog.

Tino has been a great job, and he does look like Marley, doesn't he? I didn't read the book, but I think I will. I just saw the movie and cried through the last half hour. Bawled and sniveled is more like it. It was a great story and a great movie, and hit a bit too close to home as Tino no longer sleeps upstairs. They are too tough for him. Even the two stairs to the garage sometimes present difficulty. He is getting older.


Meet Finn. He will turn one on January 2nd, and was Matt's birthday present to Carolyn. He is fun and well behaved and gets along with Tino and our four cats great. And a couple of pre-Christmas photos...brother and sister tormenting each other...

Sister and sister drooling over IPod Touches which were not to be touched...

And wrapping paper fencing. All fun.