by Dorothy Talan-Quaid
She came to me at a time when my heart was aching over another loss. She didn't know me, yet she kissed my tears away as I held her in my arms. Dolores told me DeeDee was available for adoption, but that wasn't an option for me at that stage of my grief.
I didn't bring DeeDee home with me that first day - my heart was too heavy over losing Sally. But a few weeks later, a well-meaning friend suggested I go visit Dolores again. And DeeDee again jumped into my arms. I took her home that day. She became my best friend.
DeeDee was delighted to be the top dog in our family. She made sure that Amber, our Golden Retreiver, knew who was boss right away. She established her domain - anything that had to do with me - right away and my lap was her favorite place to be. Those first years, she slept on my pillow, over my head, or alongside me, when I was ill. Later she had her own pillow on the bed, beside mine. But no matter where she slept, she had to be in close proximity to my body. Distance was no obstacle, as she would launch herself into space in my direction, sure that I would catch her and prevent injury - which, of course, I did. She also ignored attempts by others to attract her attention - "Miss Priss" is what my mother called her, a "typical Yorkie". DeeDee had chosen her owner, and nothing would change her mind.
We had many years together, my DeeDee girl and I. Last night I had to put her to sleep. She went into congestive heart failure and never recovered. DeeDee now rests with our other babies in the Yorkie graveyard we have on my parent's property. But she lives forever in my heart and memory. I will never forget her, nor her love and devotion to me. DeeDee, I loved you so!