Farewell Dizzy A delicate thread connected you to a world growing dimmer and more muffled, with its confusion of steps, its slippery floors and uneven surfaces, its hidden bumps all conspiring against a spine growing rigid hips without give muscles so weak youd fall at your water bowl. That delicate thread connected you to us, your admirers, your guardians, helplessly watching you move hunched over dragging your sagging hips, our hearts breaking at the sound of your whimpering, your crying out, your pleas for something - if only we knew what. That delicate thread was broken at last by gentle hands that loved you dearly. Our hands held you and stroked you and carefully relinquished our hold on that fragile, mysterious, oh-so-cherished thread that bound you to us. Released from your mortal tether you passed swiftly through our hands calmly and without fear. When it was over we sobbed for our loss and cradled your soft, still body for comfort. We untied the thread to end your suffering, accepting our own sharp pain of missing you so much. Now memory alone binds you to us, always, our sweet and beautiful Dizzy. Sunny Didier June 2001