[Dailydrool] Nellie--a year ago today...

[Jaime Brigance]

Dear Drool family;
 
Just wanted to share wtih you that it was one year ago today that I lost my precious 
Nellie the Nellster.  She passed in my arms at 4:10am.  
 
She was the perfect dog.  Really.  Just sooo full of love and gave me so much.  
 
Again, thanks to Suncoast Basset Rescue of Florida for bringing her to me.  I 
remember the first moment that I "met" Nellie, and that was on-line searching the 
basset lists.  I was visiting my son in FL for 10 months, and was in a place that was good 
for a dog, and I'd always wanted a basset hound.  
 
The very moment that I saw Nellie's little face on-line I fell in love deep.  Her eyes 
just reached out to me.  She was a rescue who'd been a breeder and been abused with 
broken ribs and a blood infection.  
 
The day my husband and I went to get her, Nellie almost jumped into my 
arms!!  That day was filled with so much joy!   We drove home and had pizza that night 
with all three of my kids and we all gave Nellie little bites of pizza, she acted like she was 
in heaven.  
 
Once, when I had to fly back to Oregon for four weeks, she lost several pounds while 
I was gone, her ribs showed when I got back.  Nyle said she refused to eat for several 
days and pined at my door every single night.   Finally, after a week, Nyle got her some 
rib bones and that helped.  I've never gotten a greeting like the one 
she gave me when I came in the back door late that night from the airport.  Her joy was 
loud, physical, affectionate and one of the most precious moments in recent memory. 
I swear it was just yesterday.... 
 
Nellie had a field day on our drive back across country to Oregon.  We had a huge 
U-haul pulling our Honda.  We had 4 cats (two grown, two kittens) in one large cat 
carrier between the driver and passenger, and there was really no other place for 
Nellie to be except in the arms of whoever was not driving.   So Nellie got to drive across 
the US being held!!  She had a blast.  
 
We now have a 7 1/2 month old puppy named Geoffrey, and he is great.  His love is 
strong and he is special also.  
 
There just will never be another Nellie.  I feel so grateful to have been a part of her 
life.  I tell you, after Nyle died Nellie was holding me up with her love.  So constant, 
she slept with me always, but the day Nyle died, she crawled up on my pillow and 
buried her head in my hair.  I lay in bed not believing he was dead, and she just 
kept nuzzling me with her head "it's ok mom, we'll get through this together."  And 
we did.  
 
Next year I'm hoping to finally get her a calendar date.  There are pictures all over my 
place of her, and on my car window is a window decal I had made of her and my daughter 
Jessica.  I smile at that picture everytime I get in the car.  
 
The only way I knew of to survive her leaving was to constantly have pics of her all 
over, so I could see her still with me.  It was helped tremendously.  
 
And all you special Droolers sent me dozens of notes when she left.  That helped to 
know I was not alone in my pain.  
 
I can feel joy now, knowing that I had close to 9 beautiful years with her.  My family 
was so blessed.    She was my girl, and still is.  
 
Rod Stewart said it best: "your in my heart, your in my soul, you'll be my breath as I 
grow old."  
 
These bassets are truly amazing.  
 
 
love & drool to all in need, 
 
Jaime Brigance 
Geoffrey the puppy 
Jessica the mommy 
the white kitties 
Nellie, Ruby & Quigley ATB
  loved & cherished each day in our hearts


      
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