Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Dedicated to Dublin

Its been 5 months ago today since my big brother Dublin crossed over to Rainbow Bridge & boy do I miss him like crazy. He was the one that people always stopped & asked, "Do you have a saddle for that thing?!!" He was the attention getter - people always stopping us and asking what kind of dog he was & how much he weighed....I don't blame them- he was gigantic & very attractive - but, I would rather have the brains any 'ole day...which I clearly have. He was bigger & had quite the intimidation factor...but my mom always joked that if our house would have ever been broken into, Dublin would have brought the intruder a stuffed animal & and told the bad guy to just take whatever he wanted & leave his toys...Luckily, I was always there as backup. As Dublin's favorite vet stated, "He's devastatingly handsome..." As the picture above is sheer proof.
Here are some flowers that we received after he went to Rainbow Bridge...My mom dried them & buried them in the yard under a special spot Dublin always liked to relax.
Here Dublin is playing in the leaves...He loved living in MN with all the changes in the season - except the summer one..that one is horrible. But fall, winter & spring...especially winter - that was his favorite. Dublin was named after my mom's favorite city in the world, Dublin, Ireland & fittingly so, as he was adopted on March 17, 2000.
Dublin was always (well, most of the time) willing to share his toys with me. My mom always found stuffed animals that were "our" size..meaning the super jumbo size you always want to win at the fair or carnival when you go...that's "our" size!
Here we are at Como Lake in beautiful St. Paul, MN. We lived near the lake & walked it at least a couple times a day & made many four-legged & two-legged friends. My mom used to call him Sponge Dub Lead Pants (like Sponge-Bob) because getting Dublin to walk was like pulling a mule. But if a cute blonde girl was running past us on the trail, he would speed up and follow her. A real ladies man!
Ah - the wonderful beaches of San Deigo. Dublin was always more of a beach nut that I ever was. I like water that is puddle deep. Dublin loved to crash into the waves & surf. He loved the water & would always seem to make a big poopie in the water...much to my mom & dad's horror. The bigger horror was watching the waves bring it back in! Dublin was quite proud of himself when this happened.
Our mom & pop always called us "two peas in a pod" and that we were. I was his shadow - whether he liked it or not. I always wanted to be near him & would follow him where ever he went - unless of course it was to the deep part of the ocean... I learned many bad habits from Dublin, like wiping my face on the carpet & couches after I ate & ripping apart stuffed animals & kicking my feet into the lawn after I pee-peed.
Even though I annoyed Dublin sometimes, I know he loved me. Our favorite games to play were bitey-face craziness & all out knock 'em down wrassin'. Even though he had a good 25 pounds on me, I usually could throw him down...ok, not often...but it happened once or twice. We never wanted to be seperated and rarely were...except when we somehow got on the other side of the fence from eachother...sheer torture!
Here we are accidently sharing the same bed at night time. Dublin layed down first cuz the blue one was his bed & I decided I wanted to share the bed with him. I think he eventually kicked me & I went on my red bed. My mom wants to say that this situation only happened once & she was very happy to capture it on film.
This is the last pic of us together a couple of days before he went to Rainbow Bridge. You can see the shaved areas on his right shoulder from a bone marrow biopsy & the areas on his arm from needles & stuff. He was pretty tired towards the end, but still wanted to play when he had a bit of energy. He had a kidney disease that he managed quite well, but it was an auto-immune disease that took over - he wasn't making red or white blood cells or platelets anymore. Someday my mom will post the story of Dublin & our adoption tales on my blog...and how he took so many pills I'm quite suprised he didn't go to rehab, but not today....she is weepy & just wants to rest. Losing something you love so much is physically & emotionally exhausting she says...even five months later....
I wish you all could have known my big brother. He was an absolute goofball & the master of trickery. I miss him so.
Love & Licks,
Randi
If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.
-author unknown-

21 comments:

Amber-Mae said...

Oh yeah...He was really handsome! He had a very calm but yet serious look on his face. I'm so sorry for your loss...I bet your brother Dublin misses you & your hoomans alot. Those flowers are beautiful & Dublins paw print on that cay is just lovely. This is such a beautiful tribute!

Bug hugs to you & love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Eddie N Peaches said...

Dublin was a handsome hound. Snuggle up to your Momma. She needs you tonite, Randi.
Pooches Smooches,
Eddie, Peaches & Bella

Lorenza said...

Hi, Randi
You did a great tribute for Dublin! I hadn't had the chance to meet him but sure he was a great boy! I understand how much you miss him!
I know it must be hard for you and your family but sure you have great memories of him.
Besos
Lorenza

Poppy said...

I'm sorry Randi...I'm sure you miss your brother a lot. We really enjoyed your picture tribute to him.

Poppy

Oscar's mummy and daddy said...

Thinking of you. You know that I understand how you're feeling. I love the beautiful paw print and framed photo. The photos of Dublin and Randi are precious, especially the one of them peeking through the door.

Sending lots of love to you.

Katy xxx

Kien said...

Dublin sure was handsome!!! and of course u guys missed him.. but he will always be with u in your heart..

Rossi

Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Lab said...

Awwww Dublin. Great photos and I am sure TONS of memories to fill your lab/newf soul.

Peace to you and yours and all that is ball. :)Haley

Ruby Bleu said...

That is such a nice post about Dublin, Randi. I wish I would have known it...he seem like he was a fun boy. You were a lucky girl to have such a handsome brother like that!!!

Give your Mom a lick for me...Lots of Licks, Ruby

Lucas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lucas said...

Aww..my human got a bit teary eyed while reading your post about Dublin. He really seemed like a great dog and you and your mommy must miss him so much. Your mommy took great captures of you and Dublin. I love the one where you were peeking behind a door and the one where you and Dublin were playing with the stuffed gorilla. :) Great tribute. ;)

Charlie said...

Hi Randi, Your brother Dublin sounds like he was the best! And he may have been handsome, but you're pretty nice lookin' yourself! Thanks for telling such a good story -- I got hugged twice and smooched after my mom read it!
- Charlie

Splash said...

Dublin was a great dog, and he was lucky to have such a great family!

Sophie Brador said...

oh Randi, You made my mom cry. Dublin was gorgeous! Being a blondie, I would have jogged past him in an instant if it got his attention. What a handsome boy. We're very sad he had to leave so early.

Boo Casanova said...

hello randi, sorry about your brother. didn't get to know him i'm sure he was a good friends.

thanks for visiting my blog!

wet wet licks

Boo

Ferndoggle said...

Oh My Randi...you just ruined Mom's makeup. You & your family must really miss him. Thank you for sharing a little bit about him.

I think you should go give your Mom some extra kisses today. Sounds like she might need them.

Sherman

Poppy said...

Hi again Randi! I'm glad you liked my bicycle post. You should totally get a motorcycle with a sidecar! Or one of these:
http://www.doggyride.com/doggyride/Home.aspx

Poppy

wally said...

Aw Randi,
That's a wonderful tribute to your brother who was definitely a totally devastatingly handsome dude. It must have been so great to have such a cool brother and friend. I think it's the coolest that you guys got adopted together. He was a lucky guy.

wally.

ps. Give your ma some extra love this weekend. You both could probably use it!

Anonymous said...

Oh Randi.. he sounded super awesome! I have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the photo of you both peeking through the crack of the door. Super cute. Your mom should print and frame that one in Black and White.
Hugs,
Sitka

Stanley said...

Randi Girl!

Please give your mama extra goober hugs from me (and sneak in some goober smooches too). My girl's old Airegirl, Rosie, went to the bridge just 1 month before Dublin. She was a sassy gal right up to the end and loved bitey face ~ bet they're playing together & wrasslin even now.

My girl, against everyone else's advice, adopted me 6 weeks after Rosie left. I'm sad I never met her, but I know she was so loved, and was what my girl calls her "heartdog." Your Dublin was a handsome & feisty dude. It's obvious a lot of love was flying around when you two were together.

Can't wait to hear your adoption stories. Tell your mama to email my girl anytime if she wants to spew. Some folks just don't understand.

Extra Goober love & kisses,
Stanley

Spencer said...

A beautiful tribute to a lovely boy. It's always hard to lose those you love but remember all the good times.

Katherine and Pippa said...

That's a beautiful post. We know how you feel. We wrote about Prince back in May.

I wish he was still here. But you have some great pix of Dublin. Silly mistress didn't even take many of Prinny. We all have good memories.

Pippa