On August 31, 2007, my wonderful husband passed away after a long battle with cancer. We had been married 40 wonderful years. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. The day he passed away our grandson (5) was here with his dad, my son-in-law, who had been helping me that week.

Our dog, a lovely English Setter had laid in the bedroom next to the bed the entire week before Ron passed away. Technically, I had adopted her but it didn't take long for her to become attached to my husband.

Buttons had Addison's disease and needed medication daily, and the joy she gave us was far beyond words could describe. She was a sweetheart, and thrived well during her years with us. But Addison's can be a sneaky thing, that comes on strong and fast without a warning.

Two week-ends after my husband passed away my daughter, grandson and one of their Goldens- Scooby came down to be with me. Buttons and Scooby went out for a walk with my daughter, grandson and I, and Buttons was doing just fine, off exploring for wild things with Scoobs while we walked. A couple of hours later she started stumbling around the house, and falling down. Knowing this was a crisis, Mary, Ryan and I took her to our vet - it was late around 800p.m.

He met us at his office, gave her an I.V., and medication. In all we there a couple of hours and we thought we'd lose her then. He was going to keep her overnight, but Buttons perked up and we thought she'd be better at home. I think she thought so too, as she got up and walked herself out of the office and got in the car. I placed her bed next to mine that night, and we settled down. A few hours later, I heard her struggling to breathe. A sound I was all too familiar with. I got down on the floor with her, and just petted her and talked to her, as I knew what was happening. In a few minutes she just quietly slipped away.

In the morning we moved her to the car, and I took her back to the our doctor. I cried all the way back home where Ryan was waiting for me. Needless to say it was a quiet morning, and knowing they had to leave to make the return trip home (a 5 hour drive), it was a particularly difficult time. I wasn't quite sure how I would make it thru the days to come. It was so hard anyway, and now with the house completely empty it was almost more than I could bear.

As they were packing up the car and I was sittng outside on the bench, Ryan came over to me and very seriously said "Grandma, I don't want you to be alone, so I'm going to give you Scooby. He'll take care of you now."

I said "Oh Ryan, isn't Scooby your sister's dog?" He said "yes grandma, but I called her and it's okay - we'll both share Chip (Scooby's brother) at home. You need Scooby now."

One dog can never replace another you have loved for their lifetime. But I know that Buttons was no longer feeling sick, and was out running in the hills; and I also knew that Ron stopped by and picked her up, along with a lifetime of our other dear friends and family that were waiting for him - and they'll all be waiting for me. And while we wait - Scooby and I - this grand companion and gift of love, well we make the most of our days here, and enjoy the beauty of our surroundings that we have learned to share together.