Off The Grid

Living off the Grid on a west coast island

shitty day in paradise

by 15 Comments

I don’t live in a world which allows me to turn back time. The reality is my hair will always be grey and I will never be welcome again in a Vancouver nightclub on a Saturday night wearing a skimpy green halter dress. My children will never be young again, and my dogs will never again be pups.

We have always owned at least one, usually two and sometimes three dogs.. As long as we have been married, dogs have played an important part in the happiness of our family. Bacardi was our longest living four-legged family member. She lived fourteen years and today we said good-bye.DSCN1817

There is no use explaining her loss to someone who hasn’t had a long-term relationship with a dog. Every moment of our lives in the last fourteen years has included her. Photos of the years with the children on Christmas morning always include the dog, Home movies of children opening their birthday presents inevitably include Bacardi in the background playing with the wrapping paper or surreptitiously stealing cheesies from an unattended bowl on the coffee table.

Bacardi seemed to have an endless supply of lives to call upon. She had a stroke in 2010 and we thought we had lost her, She fell off the boat at BH and was trapped between the boat and the dock. She fell off the dock at PC and was caught beneath the piling swimming in a one foot circle two feet below the deck. February of 2013 she fell off the cliff in front of our house and had to be rescued in the middle of the night by our friends in an aluminum boat as the tide rose to her feet.  She was loved by all who met her and I thought she would live forever.

But today we had to put on our big kid panties and face the truth that it was time…

Some people turn to religion or drugs or alcohol when they are sad. We turn to music (and a little alcohol) . Tonight, struck quiet by sadness we watched the concert in the park from 1991 with Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle. We opened a bottle of wine and cried during Bridge over Troubled Water and sang real loud in harmony with Me and Julio down in the school yard. It is how we cope.

We still have one dog and he is going to get lots of extra loving in the coming weeks as we try to get used to the hole Bacardis absence leaves us. As sure as I will never be young again and my children will never again live with me, there apparently can be a

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shitty day in paradise

Author: Off Grid Islanders

We are a retired couple living on an off grid island on the West Coast

15 thoughts on “shitty day in paradise”

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  1. bekeats
    August 11, 2015 at 9:47 PM

    I’m so sorry for your loss Moira and Ian. Our pets hold such a special place in our hearts and saying goodbye is so hard. What a wonderful life Bacardi had with you and the kids. She even got to enjoy a few years of retirement in Paradise.
    So sorry.
    Barb

    Reply
  2. Mary Bowman
    August 11, 2015 at 10:42 PM

    Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear this. She was so sweet, such a good heart. I ache for you all.
    MB
    sweet dreams Bacardi

    Reply
  3. Heather
    August 12, 2015 at 5:44 AM

    We are very sorry to hear that Bacardi is gone from your family. I hope you can see your kids soon and share memories of her while sitting on your deck with nature all around.

    Reply
  4. Lorenda
    August 12, 2015 at 7:08 AM

    I’m so sorry to hear the sad news; having had to do that myself I think it’s about the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I really feel your pain, and shed a tear myself at the news. Bacardi is now over the rainbow bridge with all the other much-loved pets.

    Reply
  5. Mindy
    August 12, 2015 at 7:15 AM

    You will so miss your Sweetheart. Thinking of you….

    Reply
  6. islandnanaoma
    August 12, 2015 at 11:06 AM

    A Pet’s Peace
    by Tracy M. Johnson

    I have left you now, but please don’t be sad,
    you gave me all the love you had.
    You did so much for me in my time here
    and i’ll always hold those precious times near.

    I know someday you’ll find love again
    and into your life will come a new friend.
    Your heart will heal, though you’ll never forget
    memories like the first time we met.

    Memories are wonderful, so keep them close
    and remember all the good times the most.
    Up in the Heaven for animals is where i’ll be
    and someday in the future, each other we’ll see.

    I am at PEACE now, so please don’t be sad
    You gave me all the love you had.

    Reply
  7. kerrycuthbert
    August 15, 2015 at 10:36 PM

    We are so sad to hear …we remember her as a puppy …what a family dog !!! Such sad news …our hearts are with you!

    Reply
  8. Renate
    September 1, 2015 at 10:02 PM

    I don’t know how I missed this, but I am so sorry for your loss. She was such a sweet fur baby and how she loved pears ! Some pets seem to dig their way into our hearts deeper than others, and that’s where they will live forever. I hope all the sweet memories will bring you some peace. BIG HUGS !

    Reply

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