Freddie VI

Freddie VI is fourteen today.  Freddie is our sixth terrier mix dog, all of whom have been named Freddie.  (Freddy for a male.)  As Freddie and I walked around the property this morning, (we have two acres) I joyfully noted that, while she can no longer jump 5 feet straight up into the air, she does have a bit of a light, effortless stride to her walk.  And she is happy and healthy, as attested by her last visit to the vet in May. 

Freddie was a pound dog, chosen by my youngest son the year we moved to Bakersfield,  because she most closely resembled Freddy V, who tragically was hit by a car in front of my son.  This was when we lived in Dallas.  We buried Freddy under a tree, and my son, 9 at the time, cried when we moved to California  and had to leave Freddy there.  So I had to let him pick another dog soon after arriving in California.  I was looking at a Beagle, but my son would have nothing to do with it.  He wanted this dog, and so we adopted her.

Freddie VI has lived in this house since the day we adopted her, when she was about 4 months old.  After my son moved away, she became 'my' dog.  That was over 5 years ago.  We've been best friends since.  I used to take her in the car to go pick up my youngest daughter from school; she would go over to the central coast with us for quick weekend getaways; she even went up to Washington state when we drove up to see my oldest daughter, after she got back from serving in Iraq (that's Sargeant, thank you.)

Freddie 2000

Freddie 2011

But, as has been happening lately, I grow sad very quickly knowing that she can't be with me forever, and that her season is almost coming to an end.  I take comfort knowing that there will be animals in Heaven, and that God will choose which ones get to go.  I sure hope He chooses Freddie. 

Happy Birthday, my dear, sweet Freddie.   May there be more to come.