Remembering Bella

Remembering Bella

 1996 - Nov 20, 2013

 Bella was the Queen of our pack.

She made sure everyone knew it, too.

It's amazing how long she's been around...

Since Julian was a boy!

 She was her Mama Boo's dog, through and through.

While Tucker and I could lounge and snuggle til the cows came home,

Boo and Bella would run laps around us, and then run some more...

In her hey day, she was a real wild thing.

Most days you couldn't even catch her 

because she was too busy guarding and patrolling the property.

 If you were lucky, you'd see the tail end of her headed off on a mission somewhere.

Even into her ripe old age.

Bella was quite a lady. 

And she took being Queen of the Realm very seriously.

  

Bella didn't lolligag or mess about.

She kept on the lookout for any trouble.  

No time for fun when there's a job to be done!

 Of course, sometimes, Bella was the trouble.

 

Before I joined the family, Bella had a reputation for some extremely naughty behavior.

She once ate the entire backseat out of a brand new car.

And she must have been afraid that the delivery people were bringing something dangerous, 

because for awhile she had to shake or chew open every package 

until she was sure there were no bombs or other bad things.   

 

She was such a great guardian that she even slept with her eyes open.

That girl just didn't want to miss a thing.

She worked from sun up to sun down making sure things were just right in her world.

She took a few breaks for snuggles and kisses.

After all, every queen has to keep her constituents happy by making appearances.

Luckily, she tolerated our over-protective attempts to keep her safe

from her dare-devilish adventurous ways. 

(She used to walk across the pond when it was only partially frozen, 

hence the life jacket on a few occasions!)

 When Clara joined our family last May, Bella wouldn't let her pass through the mud room

 until she had proven herself worthy to enter the rest of the house.

 

Once Bella decided she was acceptable,

she sat down and told her all the rules of the household.

Nothing ruffled Bella (except her one nemesis - loud noises!) 

She had supreme confidence in herself,

and her ability to guard and protect,

 and to keep things in line.
And she did her job very well.  

After a hard day's work, one of Bella's pleasures was allowing her faithful beau, Calvin,

to groom her face and eyes. It was a sweet nightly ritual they had together.

 She wasn't the kind of girl to seek out attention or affection,

but when she got it, she would melt.

She could only take so much closeness, though, 

before she would get up and move along.

We love you, Belly Girl.

Tender, tough, and brave.

We'll miss your sweet heart.

We will always remember 

the Light that you brought.

 Shine on, sweet girl.

  Shine on.