Dear Patchy,
You and the Brat became friends when you were both mere pups. In fact you were barely two months old when the Brat came visiting. Picking up the ball of fluff you were he flung you across the garden with all the strength his one year old arm had, which fortunately, wasn’t too much. I screamed and came running to pick you up, scolding the Brat and threatening to throw him across the garden too. The Brat of course understood nothing and as I tried to coddle you, you shook me off and went running back to him, happy to be tossed again. It was with great difficulty that we put an end to that game.
Soon the Bean came along and you were best friends. She ate out of your bowl, you ate food out of her mouth and all was well with your world.
And then you threw it all away and left us. Nani and G’pa hid it from me for a long time and when they told me, I struggled with it and wondered how to explain it to the babies. But they are so used to people coming and going that they have begun to take entrances and exits in their stride. Today, they began to ask for you “Mama, lets go to Allahabad, to play with Patchy..”
Err… err… I began, trying to make up something suitable when it came to me. “He’s gone to live with Jesus… ” I said. Now their concept of Jesus is one of their own creation. At X’mas the Bean saw the Nativity scene somewhere and said – oh look, Baby Jesus, Mama Jesus and Dada Jesus – like they were cattle or something. So I listened. And I realised they’ve picked up bits from here and there because finally we dialled Nani and this is what she was told…
Brat: Nani, Patchy wasn’t well so Jesus came and took him to Heaven to show him to a doctor there. And maybe he’ll get an injection too. And when he smiles down from Heaven his teeth shine and he is the brightest star.
Bean: and Jesus will tap (she means pat) him and he’ll be nice and warm and cosy….
Brat: so don’t cry – because he’s fine now. Maybe we can get a cat this time. I’ll get a big white cat with a collar and a leash and I’ll ride my cycle and it will race with me ..
And thus Patchy, they made their peace with your absence….
And yes, rest in peace you…
MM
I’m sorry for the loss. Hugs.
RIP Patchy! And love the way kids understand some concepts way better than us.
Losing a pet is so difficult for grown ups. I am glad kids have a larger more instinctive understanding of life and death. I just wish us grown ups knew how to deal with it like that.
you’re right. we lose a lot of our resilience as we age, strangely.
I remember the video from long long ago. Beanie saying Patchy the doggie with you and the maid encouraging her. That was the first(errr only) time I listened to your voice
RIP Patchy
goodness.. you guys always shock me with your memories…
Yes, I remember that one too. I quite often quip “Patchy, the doggie!” out of the blue. Aise hi, to amuse myself. It was really cute.
*cant get over the disbelief*
Yup, me too. And a cute video that was, with Li-lon and patchy.
*HUG* MM, and RIP Patchy the Doggie
I didn’t remember the video! :O
*Faints in shock*
*empties a bucket of water on GW*
phew. i feel better
Aww, the babies are so adorable – I love how the Brat thinks that Patchy’s teeth will shine from heaven. What I wouldn’t do for such innocence!
The little fluffy patchy in the first pic is so endearing. Two balls playing together…
I am gasping at their wisdom. I’m teary-eyed too…and strangely comforted.
(Wails!) It’s unfair! He looks sooooooooooo cuddly in those pics. I’d considered naming one of mine patchy once. How did he die so young?
he got into a fight with other dogs and bled to death. all happened at midnight when getting a vet was impossible. did the best they could to bandage him but no luck
That is indeed sad (and creepy–all the gore!)
It’s such a feeling of helplessness when we can’t avoid such things.
Oh gosh, how painful. Hope the kids don’t know this part?
thankfully not!
Ohh! It’s toughest when our pets leave us isn’t it? It’s like a part of our life is gone forever…
That photo of the brat and the pup is so absolutely lovable!
yes. they are such a big part of our lives. and now with all of us gone, my parents take a lot of joy in their pets…
RIP, Patchy. My condolences to your parents:(
May Pathcy rest in peace!!!
and yes, they the most adorable kids..
Is it easier to deal with the the concept of death when you are a child?!
i think it is. they dont know what forever means, they take each day as it comes. something i know I have lost the ability to do.
Aww. RIP Patchy. And hugs to you and the babies. BIG ones..
RIP Patchy.
uff…Patchy was the cutest puppy and the cherub sitting next to him is scrumptious!
i hate when pets die. its just painful, mostly because being the human you feel somehow responsible for not being able to avoid it.
i know what you mean. my parents were travelling when it happened so they’re feeling worse
fat babyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!
i’m talking about both specimens in the first pic.
i know
the damn child looks starved now.
That pic of baby Brat (my favorite of his) with the mischievous glint in his eyes, newly sprouting teeth and newly mundan-ed head, is from the same photo set, na? RIP, Patchy. Love the teeth and stars explanation.
Good Lord yes!
*shakes head in disbelief*
HOW??? how do you guys remember all this?
Heh. That expression was the most priceless one! (If we are to compare between other priceless ones
)
waah.. i agree. it was the most wicked look ever. i shall dig it up and post it again if i havent lost it in the computer crash
Please do hunt it out. It was the most deliciously wicked I have seen, of a baby, ever!
I’m sorry for your loss.
Wow! And are the kids wise or what? Taps on the back for both of them
taps? you guys pick up fast
RIP, Patchy.
Pets passing away are so sad….
RIP Patch…Though I was always scared of him, now I feel miserable and sad..Brat’s pic with him made me cry so much..
don’t be upset bouma… we shall get a bigger scarier dog to harass you with, the next time you come home
these days we don’t use kerosene…
c’mere and let me give you a big hug and we can both cry for him…
sorry to hear about Patchy. its amazing the resilience kids have in them, na?
btw, you have some serious fans, woman:-)
hah! they’re freaking me out. good thing i already know they’re lovely girls.
Sometimes I think we have to turn to our kids…they simplify what we make unnecessarily complcated with our confused, over-analytical minds! RIP Patchy. Hugs.
I am sorry for the loss,but glad the kids made their peace with it!
Oh no! I miss Patchy too
Whatever happened? Isn’t he bit too young?
yep – he got into a fight with other dogs and bled to death. all happened at midnight when getting a vet was impossible. did the best they could to bandage him but no luck
Oh crap!!! Oh no!!! Poor wee Patchy! How horrible!!!