In Memoriam — Luna The Dog (2014-2021)

She was smart, loyal, kind, adventurous, brave, and curly beautiful, if not always perfectly obedient. She had a stubborn streak, to be sure. And she was very strong, as well as strong-willed; so, when she “went on sit-down strike,” we weren’t going anywhere! She was a great companion and family member. Luna loved to retrieve her “flock” of floating throwing ducks and swim around after our kayaks in the cove here in Maine. 

She loved sitting on the top steps of our cabin porch (above picture) and our deck at home, where she could keep an eye on all that was happening around her neighborhood. She loved watching our neighbors, John and Katie, working in their yard. A bounce of the Landivar kids’ basketball, on the other side of our yard, always brought her out of the house and to the fence to see what was happening. 

She also loved the morning “dog club” in our back yard and was always up for the four o’clock in the afternoon dog walk, rain or shine, except on the hottest days when she thought only humans would be dumb enough to leave the air conditioned comfort of home. 

Fall was probably her favorite season because it brought cooler weather, always a “plus” for a curly black dog. She loved to frolic in the autumn woods and also enthusiastically romped in the snow. 

She always looked forward to visits to or from her “grandchildren” and their families, and looked sad when they left and things went back to their normal less active and exciting time with us. She also liked visits from our kids’ dogs and was most upset when one of them showed up without dog in tow. 

She went with us everywhere, from Campobello Island, Canada to the Shenandoah Mountains, and beaches from the Atlantic to Lake Michigan — and many stops in between. Luna was the “perfect traveler” — she would climb into her in-car kennel, curl up, and sleep patiently, not a sound, until the next rest stop or destination. The minute we said the words “car,” Luna’s tail was wagging, and she was raring to go! Wherever we went, she always was happy to return “home” to her spacious back yard and even “her cats” — although not always clear they were as delighted to see Luna!

Luna got us through good times and tough times. Retirements, operations, illnesses, celebrations, family reunions, and the difficult “year of the COVID” when she kept us active and engaged! She even went with us and became “temporary big dog on campus” during my stint as a distinguished visiting professor at our alma mater, Lawrence University several springs ago. 

She also went with me on at least one speaking engagement (although Cathy said “never again” even though everyone at the hotel was happy to see Luna). Most recently, Luna was there at the Kohler Resort in Wisconsin to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with family (actually 50 + 1 because of a “COVID postponement”). Except for the actual “anniversary dinner,” we ate our carry-out meals at the hotel plaza so that Luna and Anna’s and Daniel’s family dog Rey could join in the fun and the younger grandchildren could romp.

Sadly, Luna left us early this morning, here on beautiful and peaceful Linekin Bar, after a short unanticipated illness (although, to be sure, she had battled through some chronic health problems and was on medications). She was only 7 years old. Active and happy, almost till the end, it’s hard to believe that it was only Wednesday that she and Rey were chasing ducks and kayaks with the families at the “beach” at Barrett’s Park, just at the end of the bay from our cabin (and the place where Anna and Daniel were married in 2009)!

Death is an essential part of life, and particularly life with pets. Intellectually, we know that. 

But, that doesn’t make it any easier. Certainly our family has been through it a number of times before, and it inevitably it will happen again. It’s always toughest on those left behind. 

Indeed, Luna’s predecessor, Coda, died (less unexpectedly) here back in 2013. Luna was a great, humanizing, joyful, presence in our lives, for which we will always be grateful, even if our time together was far, far too short. We hade a great time together, while it lasted, and know you had a good life with family and friends who loved, honored, and appreciated you. We will never forget you, and you will always be a part of our lives and memories.  Rest in peace, oh loyal and beloved friend and companion.

Best wishes, always, 

PWS😰

08-06-21