Sunday, January 13, 2002 Run, run like the wind, again... We used to say Murphy must be a cross between a spaniel and a deer! Her favorite thing was to run as fast as her legs would carry her, and no other dog (or human) could ever keep up. She came into our lives on a snowy Christmas eve 1986, as a fluffy scared puppy, my 9 year old son's first dog. Not extremely "tricksy", she only learned to "shake" and "sit", she never did learn to stay out of the trash or not to eat underwear! But she protected us and nurtured us all for 16 years. Whenever a new animal came into the household, she welcomed it and mothered and protected it with all her heart, including my daughter (who came 11 years ago). She stayed with us through many moves and life changes, always a comfort, following us with huge brown eyes full of love. She slept by the bed, or under the computer desk at your feet; she waited anxiously outside the bathroom door as if she was afraid you'd never come back. The last few years she moved more slowly, lost most of her teeth, got grey hair along her muzzle, but was always ready to play or go for a walk, or beg for "just one bite" of people food. Then 2 years ago, the tumor came on her leg. They removed 17 tumors the first time---she looked like a patchwork dog! She recovered to be healthy and run again. They came back months later, and were removed twice more. Just before thanksgiving, the elbow tumor came back, growing to baseball size within a week. Vet told us we could only make her comfortable, as she could not withstand an amputation at her age. We did everything we could. When the medicine made her sick, we hand-fed her cottage cheese and bacon. The tumors broke open and bled everywhere...but still she was glad to see us, and would have some good days, romping in the yard. Friday morning she could hardly get up, and her huge brown eyes almost begged me to do SOMETHING to help! We fed her a pound of real bacon and 2 chocolate cookies. Yesterday at 1pm, all her friends and family gathered at the vets to say goodbye. She hobbled over to each of us in turn for love. We held and petted her and loved her until she drew her last breath. Then I said, "Run, Murphy, just run like the wind!" It was so hard to leave her there (she is going to be cremated). I hope I made the right decision at the right time...if only I could have asked her, she trusted us so much. The house seems so empty today. I miss her gentle spirit terribly! I hope the Rainbow Bridge is true, because I want to see her running up to me again someday. We love you Murphy, I hope you know that. Goodbye, my sweet loyal friend!