Meg
I wasn't supposed to need to write this post for three more years. That was the plan. Three. More. Years.
Why the hell do plans keep falling apart for us lately?
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I never planned to give in. I knew within hours of meeting Mr. Husband that he loved Bulldogs, but I didn't expect to ever have one living in my house. I guess when a guy has a tattoo of an animal and he has spent his entire life trying to scheme to get that animal, you should know that your plan to resist is doomed to fail.
And my plan failed miserably.
The first thing that happened was that Mr. Husband managed to kick some serious butt at work one month. He wound up with a bonus that more than covered the cost of our kitchen remodel. It's hard to tell a guy he can't buy his dream dog when you're standing inside your shiny new kitchen thinking lusty thoughts about your new crown moulding.
Then he started asking when he was getting his Bulldog EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. His persistence almost qualified as a form of torture.
And then there was this.
Bulldog puppies are the cutest damn puppies that have ever walked this earth. It's true. And Meg was the sweetest puppy EVER.
There was no way I could resist once I had spent ten seconds around baby Meg.
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Meg grew up to be everything I expected: a farting, snorting, drooling beast that had about as much grace as a bowling ball with legs. While that description is essentially everything I don't like in a dog, Mr. Husband adored everything about her. He loved her almost as much as he loved me. She was his dream come true.
He loved her so much that he happily tolerated me complaining about that dog every single day for nearly eight years. She drove me to the limits of insanity with her never-ending need to be wherever I was, constantly gnawing on her paws or snoring or snorting like a an old lawn mower. If her plan was to try to charm me with her constant need to be noisy, she failed miserably. I couldn't be charmed.
But it never stopped her.
Nothing ever stopped her.
Meg did whatever she wanted to do whenever she wanted to do it. She was all Bully.
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Every evening at our house is virtually identical. Mr. Husband disappears down to his man cave and I curl up on the couch with my laptop. Alexis does whatever she wants to do, as did Meg. And what Meg nearly always wanted to do was to shove her big, stinky butt all up in my business. I would tell her to get off of the couch over and over and over again. Each and every time she would obey, but would immediately boomerang back up without so much as pausing. It was if she was saying, "Yeah, I know what you want me to do and I'm willing to prove I'm smart enough to obey, but I'm still going to do whatever I want."
I'd tolerate her noisy presence for a while, but would eventually start to lose my mind. It was usually somewhere around the second or third room-clearing fart that I would chase her down to the man cave. She belonged down with Mr. Husband. Not with me. That was the plan.
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Things were going according to plan. Meg had annoyed me to the point of insanity. I had chased her down to the man cave. Mr. Husband was doing what he had done every night for as long as I can remember--he was playing with Meg. Her favorite thing in the whole wide world was to play Keep-a-Way. She would grab a bone-shaped fleece toy and dare you to try to take it from her. If you tried, she would snag it and run away. If you managed to grab hold of it, she would clamp down as hard as she could and pull and pull and pull and pull until your arm was ripped clean off of your body. Or until you let go. Whichever came first.
All they were doing was playing, just like every other night.
Meg went from grinning her idiot Bulldog grin to collapsing in a pile of fur and wrinkles in an instant.
Mr. Husband pulled her into his arms and carried her upstairs, all the while trying to figure out what had happened. We didn't even have time to start stressing over how we would pay for an emergency trip to the vet's office. She was gone less than five minutes after she collapsed.
Just like *that.*
Gone.
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The plan was for her to follow along with the statistics that define the English Bulldog breed. They are supposed to live 8-10 years, but of course Meg was healthy and active and made frequent trips to the vet, so she was going to live just a little past that maximum expectation.
She was always a little bit exceptional, so it was a reasonable plan.
We forgot to factor in that 20% of English Bulldogs die suddenly of cardiac issues. We don't know for a fact what exactly happened, but it's not hard to guess.
Meg followed a plan. It just wasn't our plan.
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There was exactly one person who could convince Meg to do her bidding: Alexis. Alexis was born with magical powers over that dog. She could put clothes on her, force her to move off of the couch, convince her to have a tea party . . . anything. For as bumbling and stubborn and klutzy as Meg was, she was miraculously gentle and tolerant with Alexis.
The news that Meg's heart had stopped and she was gone didn't go over well.
With anyone, really.
We'll miss you Megara Madison.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Reader Comments (74)
All I've got is this: *hugs* for all of you.
I have been thinking of you all all weekend. I am so SO sorry you all lost her this fast, it's a SCARY thought. And puppy Megs...i would have caved just as fast. SO adorable. Saying prayers for poor little Alexis' heart, losing a pet is so crazy hard.
This is beautiful. God bless Meg, and God bless you in your time of grief.
This was perfection in a tribute. I happen to believe all dogs go to heaven. Sending a clink of a wine glass to you tonight - to Meg.
Losing a pet *is* crazy hard and I have been thinking of you all and praying for you since you posted yesterday. She's rompin' with Jasmine now :).
So sorry. So hard to help Alexis understand it and I'm sure you husband is devastated too. Sucks.
Damn. My eyes are leaking. What an adorable baby Meg, and I will be sending healing prayers of comfort for all the hurting hearts in your family. I hope everyone finds some peace. So sorry.
Heartbreaking. She really was a good girl.
I love that she passed while doing what she loved. But man, I sure do hate that she passed. I am so sorry for your family's loss.
XOXO
The first time we met Meg, we got to see every single toy she had, because she found every single one (even though they had been moved around as you guys were packing up your old house), carried them over to Mrs. Crappy and dropped them at her feet, with an expectant look on her Bully face. And Meg was as smart as you mentioned; she totally pegged Mrs. Crappy for being the sucker for dogs that she is.
Our condolences, BB, to you and your family.
Sending my condolence from Singapore. *hugs* for you and your little girl.
Oh hell, Michelle, I'm nearly crying. For a post that shouldn't have had to been written yet, you've done it so well. I think we all got to know a little piece of Meg on here and she'll be missed.
Once again, you guys will be in my thoughts, and I'm sending a million hugs to all of you.
I never even knew your Meg, but tonight I cry for her anyway. Thinking of you all.
I'm so sorry for your loss. We lost our beloved doggie of 13 years 3 years ago this coming Thursday. It's so hard to lose our furry family members that take up so much space in our hearts. Love to you....
Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss, Michelle... It's never easy to lose a loved one, and losing a pet unexpectedly is downright awful. When I lost Hamlet I was bereft. I still catch myself off guard and before I know it I'm locked in my bathroom crying. Our furry friends give us love and companionship, and all they ask is for love in return. I'll be thinking of you and your family, and trust me, it won't really go away, but the thoughts will eventually bring smiles and warmth. Be well, my friend.
I've been thinking and praying for you and your family this weekend. I've lost several pets over the years and it never seems to get any easier. Meg had a wonderful life with you, and she died doing something she loved. I'm sure she's playing with Jasmine now.
Oh Michelle, I am soooo sorry to hear of your of Megs' passing. Our dogs are our fur kiddos too....my heatfelt sympathies and hugs go out to all of you. It's never easy when it's a family mem.ber. God bless sweetie
Sweet, so sweet.
and
Sad, so sad.
I am so sorry for your loss. As a longtime reader, my heart is broken for your family. Rest in peace, Meg.
lots of love sent your way.
Oh my love... sending you kisses across the ocean.
Again, I'm sorry for your loss. I know this a difficult time for all of you and have been thinking of you all.
Although I know you're not a fan, hugs and thoughts for you and the fam.
What a perfect tribute post. God, reading these sorts of things break my heart. I don't think there's anyone on the planet with a heart who doesn't have it splinter at the thought of someone losing their family's smallest, furriest member. I'm so sorry for your loss!
I just love this post and I'm so very sorry you are going through this. I know how hard it is to lose a member of the family. I lost my four-legged son one month before my now three-year old was born and I still think of him everyday. In the beginning I called my newborn "Shadow" by mistake. I don't do that anymore but my son sure knows who he is because of all the pictures around the house. I can't even imagine how difficult it is to watch Alexis be sad about losing her buddy. My heart aches for you all and I hope time will heal the pain and you'll be left with those funny and heart-warming memories.
So sorry for your loss.
So sorry. So, so, so sorry. Our pit bull mix is 10, and our 8-year-old human is starting to become aware that the dog's time on earth is coming to a close. We both cry just thinking about it.
You wrote a lovely tribute. What an adorable puppy she was.
I'm so sorry. :( Comforting thoughts to all of you, especially Alexis.
Oh man... So sorry for you and Mr Hubs and Alexis. Such a difficult time.
I also just lost my Princess Pug girl. I do know the pain of the loss. I still here the tinkling of dog tags and every time I open the door... I stoop to give her a rub. I feel your pain and I pray for your broken hearts.
So sorry for your loss. Meg sounds like she was a very special dog and family member.
Oh, I am crying. I am so sorry for you loss.
Absolutely best dog tribute ever. I'm weeping over a dog that isn't mine.
We'll all miss you, Meg. Your pictures and your stories.
(Also, omg, the puppy pictures.)
Tears. Beautiful post. So sorry for all of you.
What a great tribute. I'm sorry for your loss. :( Meg sure was a cutie as a pup, though!
Sorry for your loss. Losing a member of your family is never easy.
Oh, I am so so sorry. How devastating for all of you.
So sorry for your loss :(
You know, I don't think I've ever seen a bulldog puppy before... I can't believe how cute...
Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. I know I still tear up thinking about the Golden I lost when I was 19. It was one of the darkest days I've ever had. But on the bright side, she visits me in my dreams sometimes.
Whenever there's a dog in my dreams, it is always a Golden. And I'm always so thrilled to see her.
Lossing a pet is heartbraking, so sorry ;(
So sorry!
May your memories of her help your hearts heal.
I am so sorry for your loss! My goodness, that's heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you and your family.
I lost my 13-year-old 'puppy' crazy suddenly, too. She was at the vet all day for a few quick procedures, came home and was acting groggy but okay. She fell asleep on the living room floor and I didn't want her to sleep alone so I carried her upstairs to my room and she died in my arms before I got her to my bed. Just like that. You just don't think you'll bring your puppy home from the vet and she'll die hours later. Given her age I was starting to worry about the time 'a decision' might have to be made. I think the crazy unexpected fast passing was worse. I'm so sorry for your family. It's just an awful, helpless feeling.
This made me cry. We will miss you Meg. Sending lots of hugs your way.
So sorry, sweetie. I know Meg has all the chew toys she wants in a better place, now, but that doesn't make missing her any less sucky. :(
Oh wow. This is so sad. I am so sorry for your loss. You wrote about Meg almost as much as you write about Alexis.
That was such a beautiful post and it made me cry. Mark and I are so sorry for your loss. We just can't believe it. We were so lucky to have been able to spend so much time with her. She was such a dolll to watch. Mark and I just adored Meg. She was filled with such personality and loved when she would put me to sleep with her snoring. She will be greatly missed! Hang in there and let us know if you guys need anything.
I'm so very sorry for your loss.... :o(
I'm so very sorry for your loss.... :o(
I am so, so sorry for your loss. Nothing breaks my heart more than the loss of a beloved family pet. Big hugs to all of you.