"My Love Affair", with Joe!
8-2004 to 11-22-09

So it was back in 2004.......I had lost my first dog Darkstar and was grieving and in despair when
I found myself at the dog store, looking for a puppy. I had been to the casino the night before and
Had won $700.00. I held Joe and I knew this little puppy, was the beginning of my love affair.
I put the seven $100 bills, on the counter and never looked back! The best money I ever spent!
His price tag was $650.00 and with tax, exactly $700. Something to ponder(:
Once home, we put him on the ground (reluctantly) to meet his new friends Luna & Frisco, my son and
Daughter-in laws beautiful boxers. They were about 1-2 yrs old at the time. Joe let everyone know
He was the boss and chased them in circles and held his ground, with that then little bark(:

That first night, Joe cuddled with me, all night. This continued until 11-22-09, the morning he died.
Joe was my best friend like all past animals, in my life. Joe lived with his big fat cat Tuffy, who also
Shared the peaceful nights with us. Most nights we would always say our prayers together. Joe
Wrapped on one side of me, Tuffy the other, I would talk for all of us: Dear Jesus thank you for our
Lives today. Thank you for Joe and Tuffy. I promise I will love them as long as you allow me.
Thank you for everyday you have given us together. Tuffy would purr and Joe would have his paws
On me.

Early on, Joe was the clown they say boxers are. One day I came home from work and Joe had
Used his long legs/paws to swipe all the dishes off my open Hutch, in my kitchen. Many dishes were
Lost that day. I lost my mother in 2000. Many of her heirloom dishes, were on this Hutch. Amazingly,
The four special ones from my mom, were unharmed. They had hit the floor and they were sitting on
The floor like the pictures I have seen when the Titanic sunk, to the ocean floor. Sitting in perfect unison,
As if someone just placed them there. It was a spiritual moment. Something I have always pondered.
I just picked up the broken pieces of the other dishes and looked at Joe. My love was so unconditional
I could not be mad at him. That was part of our Love Affair. One day I came home and he had gotten
Into the storage area and dragged out a old antique stuffed horse, that belonged to my now 35 year old
Son. He shredded part of it. What a sight, seeing Joe sitting by this stuffed horse, when I walked in the
Door. I have wonderful pictures, of all these hysterical times.

Joe loved the dog parks. I have tons of pictures of Joe and all his many friends, from over the years.
He was a gentle soul. He loved everyone and every animal. The last 7 months before Joe died, he
Met his best doggie friend ever. Little Billy! My sister became ill and one weekend helping her out
By taking care of Billy, turned into every weekend for the last 7 months. They absolutely could not
Wait for the weekend to come, to be together. I have amazing, loving, playing & tugging with toys,
Chasing each other in the yard, cuddling and kissing each other, bath time, snuggling with Tuffy and
Sharing the same dog dish, eating at the same time, together. Joe, Tuffy & Billy were quite a team.
They filled my home with love, laughter and sunshine. Joe was a mama's boy. He was lost without me.
Each night, Joe waited by the window for the Metro bus to come by, the signal that mama would be on
One of those buses. I would open the door and there was Joe with his short little tail wagging a
Hundred miles an hour and then he would jump 5 feet in the air to greet me. This was always followed
With kisses & hugs, to each other. Tuffy would be there too, purring and watching the excitement.

Reflecting back to the few days before Joe died, I remember one night Tuffy laying over Joe. I had this
Flitter of a thought, cats are known to do this before a animal or human dies. It was such a fleeting
Moment......looking back....I may have just pushed it out of my mind as quickly as it came to me.
Again, I ponder this moment. The day before Joe died I had taken him to his doctor. He had been
Tired, even lethargic at times. Something wasn't right. I was assured after a complete check up and
Complete blood panel, that nothing pointed to cancer. I even remember saying to his doctor: So no
Indication of cancer? Her words were: Joe has a slight temperature and his white cell count is a little
High. His electrolytes are good. His kidneys and liver are good. His stool sample is good. Let's
Start Joe on a antibiotic/inflammatory (he had thrown up earlier in the week) and continue to give him
The hamburger/rice meal, I was cooking for him. (just my own knowledge when a dog is sick). By
The time we left, Joe was wagging his tail and relaxed. The next morning 11-22, I woke up and Joe
Was not beside me. Totally out of character. I panicked, ran downstairs and found Joe laying
On the floor. I was able to sooth him, love him, tell him I loved him and lay with him, rubbing his
Beautiful soft coat of fur and just held him in my arms, the best I could. I put his favorite quilt around
Him and a pillow under his very tired head. His heart was beating fast when I found him. It got quiet,
He took his last breath, in my arms. I called my family. My son and I had to take that dreadful ride
To the emergency vet (it was Sunday). We both cried and hugged Joe, our beautiful friend and
Companion. We left his quilt with him and requested, it stay with him. We left holding a red clay
Impression, of Joe's beautiful paw. I have no doubt, that dreadful morning, that Joe waited to say
Goodbye, to Mama and Papa!

I thank the people that were especially close to Joe. My son Jesse, a great lover of animals. Papa,
Whom Joe, loved so much. Papa was fortunate, that at 4:00 in the morning, as he left for work, Joe was
There and Papa gave Joe his usual big back rub. This particular morning, Papa told Joe:
Get better, buddy. But it wasn't to be. I thank my sister Shirley and her little Billy, for stopping by
The day before. They were able to love him, one more time. Joe loved Jesse, Papa, Tuffy, Shirley &
Billy, so very much. Thanks to everyone that loved Joe and all animals. God's great creatures! Also,
To my dearest daughter in law Tiffany, who rushed over to console me. Tiffany cried with me and gave
Me the hug I so needed. She knew Joe was gone and helped me so much, at that moment of disbelief.
Thank you Tiffany. Thank you Lonnie. Thanks to my dear little Owen (grandson, age 3) that would tell me
Later: Grandma, you can come to my house and play with my dogs, Luna & Frisco. He asked me
If Jesus had dog food "up there"? He then told me: Joe is with Jesus & Papa Mike & the stars & the moon.
The look on his face, was priceless. The very last picture I took of Joe, was with Owen, on Friday 11-20-09.

PRELUDE: I decided on a autopsy. I needed peace of mind. Joe died from intestinal cancer.
It had spread to his liver and his kidneys. He was never sick in 5 years, until those
5 days leading up to his death. He was strong, vibrant and had no signs of cancer.
I was told Joe was so far along, that nothing could have saved him. Our "love affair"
will go on "forever", in my heart and soul. I love you, my dearest friend. Tuffy still
looks for you, honey. We console each other. Tuffy has stepped up to the plate &
sticks so close to me, as if Tuffy knows I need him so much right now. Billy continues
to come over. He too, looks around with sad eyes, but understands & continues to
play with Tuffy & love both of us!

See you Joe, at Rainbows Bridge!
Mama...