Sandy's GraveThis afternoon, I buried a friend that I’ve had for well over half of my life.

Before we left for church this morning, I stepped around the side of the house, and there she was.  It made me sick.

Elisabeth and I were talking… Sandy was unlike any other dog we’ve ever known.  She was actually more conscientious and gracious than a lot of people seem to be.

Sandy appeared to be rather aged when she was dropped in front of our house fifteen years ago.  She had been hit by a car, and came with a disjointed sort of walk.  She followed our family through six moves, in three states, and was as loyal as you could ask a dog to be.  She once stepped in between an aggressive snake and a Corbett kid, blocking a potentially fatal bite, and endeared herself to the family forever.

SandyIf you carried meat scraps outside, Sandy would never jump up on you to get them.  She’d never even bark or whine.  She wasn’t demanding.  If you offered some to her, she would delicately and slowly take the very edge or corner- ever so careful not to even touch your fingers.  Sometimes we would take a snack out to her when she wasn’t hungry in the least, and occasionally it would even be something that a dog wouldn’t generally eat, but without fail, she would gratefully (and slowly) eat it- at least until we went back inside.

As far as dogs go, Sandy was a true lady.

SandyDaniel and I noticed before we left for the wedding this weekend that she appeared to be nearing the end.  When we got back, she was gone.  Elisabeth mentioned that she very well may have been waiting for us to leave.  It would’ve been just like Sandy.