This past Saturday my wife and I faced a task that we all knew was coming, but no one wanted to face.

We had to put down our loyal and loving friend and family member Jasmine, the Aussie Shepherd.

Jasmine had been with us for 18 years. I still remember bringing her home and surprising my daughters with her (back then we used to drive Volvos so she made her first trip home in a Volvo wagon). The joy, the laughter, the happiness. In the years since, all three daughters have graduated from high school, one has graduated from college and the other two are on the way. Our son, who was not even home when Jasmine made her grand entrance, is a senior in high school.

Many pages have turned in the calendar, the Earth has traveled around the Sun 18 times, Christmas have come and gone, birthdays, Easter Sundays. Through it all, Jasmine was a loving, caring, loyal companion.

She never growled at anyone (even when my kids would get too rough with her during horseplay). She stood by their sides and protected them as if they were royalty and she was the leader of the Royal Guard.

Towards the end, even when the ravages of old age began to change her (physically) she remained a sweet, sweet companion.

She taught me many lessons about love and loyalty and trust. Most of all, she taught me how to go into the Winter of my life and to do it with grace and style and class...

I know that to many of you I come across as a tough SOB ready to kick ass and take names (and make no mistakes, I am a tough SOB). Right now, however, the pouring tears keep me from reading the screen.

Bye bye Jasmine. Que Dios te bendiga, mi perrita linda.

__________________
Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

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