Life Was Great!
The story of the Life and Times of Myself
By Blue Heaven’s Diamond Jim
Let’s start in the beginning. I was born on Wednesday, March 20, 1996 in
Syracuse, New York. I was only nine weeks old when I made my first
airplane flight to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although I did not travel in
the style that I preferred (I had to fly in a crate), and visibility was
poor (you can not see much from the luggage compartment), the flight was
not too bad. I slept through most of it. When we landed, I met my new
family.
One of the first things they did is make a name for me: I have a long
name, Blue Heaven’s Diamond Jim. So long, that everyone usually called
me Jim or Jimmy.
 
Excitement! Not only were there tons of people in my new family (MOM,
Dad, four sisters and a brother); but there was another two dogs and a
cat! This was certainly going to turn out to be an adventure.
The dogs included Teddy, a Golden Retriever and Float, my half brother
Lancer Newfoundland (we really looked like each other). Teddy played with me all of the time (rather, in
retrospect, I continuously bothered him). Float did not like to play
very much. I think I kind of annoyed him.
The cat was a real neat giant cat, Jazz. I loved to sniff him. He did
not run away when I came near (maybe it was too much work to move).
The kids and Dad were really neat. There was always someone around to
play with.
MOM was special. After all, she was LIFE. I felt I would pine away if
she was not around. When MOM and Dad were out of town, I would often
wait to eat until I could see that MOM was safe. After all, she was MOM.
My main thing was snuggling. I was permitted to go on the couch in the
family room. I loved to lie on everyone’s lap – or to rest my big shaggy
head. Of course, the best was when MOM was on the couch with me. It was
great when we watched television together.
Of course, there were many things that I loved to do. When young,
digging was great. I always enjoyed playing in the mud. Swimming was
great. I even got to take regular vacations when I went to dog shows
(brag, brag – I am a ‘champion’). I loved taking walks. People would
always stop to talk to me. Weird, but small dogs would always come out
to bark at me. I loved toys – especially ones that squeaked. We
always had great parties.
I was really quite popular. I had a friend on the other side of our
fence that used to always visit when I was in the yard. I always enjoyed
when we had doggie company – especially for overnighters. One day, the
front door had to be propped open. It became a doggie party. Other dogs
in the neighborhood popped in to spend time with me. One even stayed for
a week (MOM and Dad had to find the owner)
.
I was not really into eating. The kids called me anorexic. Even though
light for a newfie, I was still a giant dog. My favorite food was
chocolate.
Teddy was the leader among us dogs. When Teddy got very old, Float and I
had a disagreement over who should assume leadership role. That was a
side part of our otherwise peaceful life. Float and I ended up fighting.
Over and over. Everyone was so mad at us. MOM and Dad hired a doggy
psychologist to help straighten us up. Although MOM and Dad followed
most directions completely, the ideas did not seem to help. Once they
gave up on these ideas, everything worked out OK again. Actually,
everything was fine for me for a while because I was good at pretending
I was peaceful. Well, I actually was peaceful. So it was easy to act
this one out.
After a while, other cats joined us. Tigger was not much fun. She did
not seem to like me very much (we did get along OK – even better as she
got older). Pepper was great. She liked to share my food and loved my
water (no one else would share after me or Float had water. Something
about slime)
.
Going into the back yard was always fun. Our yard is filled with bunny
rabbits. They loved me. Although they did not come up to me to play, I
would not chase them. Birds, squirrels and any other animal making their
way into our yard were my friends.
As I got older I got very sick. At one time, I almost died. I tended to
throw up a lot. Unknown to anyone, I had a condition ‘megaesophagus’.
That means that my esophagus got huge and did not work right. Rather
then my food getting to my stomach, it got stuck in my esophagus. Then I
throw up. Over and over, all over the place. I got aspiration pneumonia
and had to spend a week at the University of Minnesota Veterinary
Clinic. They got me back on track and figured out how MOM and Dad should
take care of me. From then on, I had to have my water on a chair, and
had to eat food while stretched out on the stairs. That, along with tons
of medicine, helped me get the food digested. At this time, they finally
figured out that what I really wanted was softened food. Wow! I sure
started eating.
When I got very old, I had to eat canned dog food. That was such a
feast. So special for me. I really loved that food.
For a couple of years, I got sick numerous times. I became a regular at
our veterinarian office (they really liked me. Everyone knew me). I did
everything that was suggested.
Yes, I was sick a lot of the time. But I had a great life. Everyone
loved me so much. I loved everyone (especially MOM) so much. I was
always part of everything.
I started to feel real sick more and more often. One day I felt kind of
strange. I started to shake a lot and could not move. Everyone kept me
company. I was not afraid – was actually happy – everyone was with me
and would not leave me alone.
My brother and Dad carried me to the car. I had one last trip to the
vet. Everyone was around me to say goodbye.
I sure loved my life.
Jimmy
Born: March 20, 1996
Died: July 4, 2006
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