(Reggie's first trip to Houghton Lake, 7/1994)

Hello All.  Today has been a difficult day.  Reggie passed away yesterday afternoon.  Dave and I took her to the vet's office when the kids were at school.  They were very professional.  She died without pain and in our arms.  We told Marisa beforehand, and she very sweetly responded; "Now Mira will be able to play with Reggie in Heaven."  When we spoke to Dominic & Natalie about Reggie's ailing health they were only interested in what kind of dog we would get next.  Last night when we told all the kids that Reggie was gone, Dominic responded - "Reggie was the best dog ever.  I'm really sad she's gone."  Natalie reminisced about how special Reggie was. 

Reggie was very much part of this Haight family.  Dave and I brought her home just a month after we were married.  I remember holding her shivering little puppy body in the car.  She absolutely loved going to Gun Lake with us, she'd try to follow us in the water whenever we'd take out the pontoon boat.  Sometimes she even convinced us to let her ride along.  My summer vegetable gardens were often raided -- Dave took a picture of me reprimanding her, with a half eaten cantaloupe in my hands.  There are so many memories - the time Reggie found and chased a rabbit all around the backyard or when Dave would take Reggie to the park to hit golf balls.  Reggie would retrieve them faster than Dave could hit them out into the field.  She really took care of all of us - and we will treasure those memories.

Other things in life are all right.  I'm eager for my appointment on Tuesday.  I'm hoping the weather cooperates.  Driving to Ann Arbor at rush hour will be bad enough - I hope it doesn't snow.  I did just receive my surgery transcripts in the mail.  I requested them from the hospital's medical records department.  A friend mentioned it is wise to have a copy in the case of future surgeries.   I am glad to have the report, so that next time they know what already works with me.  But in hindsight, I really didn't need to know all the little details of my surgery.   Everything is very clearly noted and described.  In this case, too much info is definitely not a good thing.   

Well, I'd better say goodbye.  Time to get the kids ready for bed.  Have a wonderful Friday and a weekend full of laughter, love and life.  God bless, Michelle