Tuesday June 20

Jessi(e) December, 1991 –June 20, 2006






Jess, you were born in December, 1991 on Margo’s family, Jenkin’s Ranch, just outside Pincher Creek, Alberta. Your father, Gorbi, was a terrier mix and your mom, Smoke, was a husky. Margo had Christie, a female from an earlier litter and she was only 10 pounds with a lovely face, short body and short legs. Margo called on March 9th, 1992 to say that she had a female pup for me and it would be arriving the following evening. That pup was you. You flew from Cranbrook to Vancouver to Halifax and finally to Saint John. On the date you arrived, I was in the middle of a 4 day, 48 hour work shift at the police station and had been up since 5 am. Your flight didn’t get into Saint John until 10 pm. Oh, how excited we all were, anxiously awaiting your arrival. On the way to the airport, Aaron had named you Daisy. The airport seemed deserted and finally a pilot directed us to your location. Wow, you were beautiful, but as we all said “she isn’t a Daisy”….so, on the way home in the car Trevor named you Jessi. As I had to get up again at 5 the following morning, I went to bed leaving Bob, Trevor and Aaron to settle you into your new environment. At work the following morning Trev called to say he was coming home from school because he had a migraine. I figured he was suffering from a case of pneupuppyitis and wanted to spend the day with you.

You blended into the family with the greatest of ease. I vividly remember taking you to the Paw Shop to pick up some food dishes, food and other supplies. Oh, how proud I was of my 10 pound girl; and although you were only 3 months old, I thought you were full grown!!. The lady at the Paw Shop had great delight in telling me that you would triple your weight and size. I thought she was crazy, but obviously she knew what she was talking about. You look exactly like Christie, the same beautiful face, but did grow to be three times her length and 38 pounds. Obviously you were not going to be a “lap dog”.
The first few months you loved to “run” and we had to be careful if you got out without a leash as you would go in a “running mood”, non stop and race all over. I feared you racing into the street. Once you settled down you were able to be in the yard without a leash and would stay on your own property. The first year as a pup, you loved to dig holes and our back yard became a maze of craters, so we had to be careful that we didn’t sprain ankles if we fell in one!! We figured you must have been part Australian Terrier. You loved to walk…and it got to the point where we had to spell the word because if you heard it, you were up and ready to go. I loved to walk with you and during your 14 years we had a number of walking partners with the most recent and faithful being Diane. I wonder how many thousands of miles you walked in your 14 ½ years!! You didn’t need a leash, you would walk along beside us, very obedient. Aaron had a paper route, you went with him 6 days a week from 1993-1999. On Sunday’s after church we would take you to the trails behind the Gondola Point Recreation Centre; oh, how you loved to race ahead and sniff the wonderful smells. We would play a game of hide and seek and you would always come back to find us.

Bob, Aaron and I were busy and active with mountain bike racing and we would have to travel many weekends. I would hire a pet sitter to care for you. You would always get sort of “sulky” when you saw the suitcases coming out. Then one day when we were packing up the car, and doing a final check of the house, we couldn’t find you….after some searching we found you in the car!!! You certainly let us know that you were ready to come along and be part of the team…. you became well known on the VELO NB circuit. You were a great traveler and a pleasure to take anywhere because you always were very well behaved. I can honestly say I can never remember getting annoyed with you at any time during our time together!!!
About 3 years ago we noticed a change in your behaviour…and realized that you were most likely deaf. This past year has been more difficult with you struggling up and down the stairs and then in March at your vet check up the discovery of a cancerous tumor. Age does not stop and wait….we all become a victim and age seemed to catch up with you. I was hoping to have you stay with Nanny and Poppy this summer while dad and I would be away. I then realized that being away from you for 10 weeks would just be too much. Watching you these past few weeks I knew that I would have to make a tough decision as the growth was becoming large and obviously a nuisance for you.

Yesterday during our talk, hug and cuddle I feel that I made my peace with you and you gave me the go ahead. This morning was the hardest thing that I ever have done. You were my brave girlie right to the end. I held your head in my arms while dad held your body as you peacefully went to sleep. Your memory will always be a part of me and I love you forever Jessi!!

Enclosed is something that my friend Kaye e-mailed to me last week…

The Rainbow Bridge...

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet
goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special
friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water
and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.
Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we
remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy
and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special
to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops
and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body
quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green
grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet,
you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy
kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and
you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from
your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....