Hello everyone.  I was going to post something yesterday, but I believe that this is more important.  So, I’m sorry if you were expecting something.

I woke up yesterday morning to the sound of my phone vibrating.  It was my mom calling to say that our 17 year old chihuahua terrier mix Chica was not doing well.  She didn’t give me details, but I knew it was bad.

About an hour and a half later I got the text saying that she crossed the rainbow bridge.

We got Chica from a friend of our the summer of 2006.  She was a country dog whose friend had passed away.  The family was afraid to bring her inside because they had a young son at that time.  They didn’t want her to be hurt and weren’t sure what to do.  This was the time when Haley and I entered 4-H and needed two dogs to participate in the dog program.  Our friends suggested Chica and we took her into our house.

And she fit in perfectly.  She got along great with our other dog Ezzy and soon became our little princess.  She loved sleeping on beds and following people around to make sure that they weren’t leaving her.  She trotted after us and made us trip over her so many times.

We always joked that if she was a person, she was a dumb blond who hated the outdoors and took things too literal.  If she saw a sign that said ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’, she wouldn’t drink any water because it was drinking.  She would shiver in the cold of the outdoors, even after we put a pink jacket on her.  She would be perfect in our 4-H shows because she was scared that she would lose if she did move.

But she was our little Chiquita Chihuahua.

And as she got older, her health started to decline.  She couldn’t see that well and started to lose her hearing.  She could see shadows and us giving her hand signals, but that was about it.  But, Chica could always hear the treat bag open and be right at our feet for her daily bone.  She would usually pee in the house, unless we carried (did I mention that she was a princess?) her outside to go to the bathroom.  But we did that because we loved her and would do anything for her.

Now without her, things will be vastly different without her.  We won’t hear the pitter patter of her feet on the floor, and the click of her nails on the hardwood.  We won’t have to worry about her being in pain.  She will be in heaven, watching us from above.

So to celebrate her life, we did some things that Chica would’ve loved to do.  We ate Mexican food and toasted to her.  And we did some retail therapy, something that Chica would’ve loved to do.

So Chica, you will be greatly missed.  Know that we loved you so much and you will be greatly missed.  You now have your own castle where you can rule over everyone and make the executive decisions.  You will always be loved and missed.