As I sometimes–heck, often–do when I don’t know just what to focus on for writing, thinking, or about what’s needed in a photographic summary of one lifetime, I go to the image galleries. And there, I quite often wander around the “blogimage” folders of pix I’ve posted with words and stories. Those are not just free-floating photographs. Each is embedded in an era of life on Goose Creek–before which I neither wrote nor shared images beyond family and friends.
Five years ago, we had decided to let our artist-friend Gretchen do a pastel portrait of Himself. I opened it up to popular vote. Number 3 won, and it hangs on the wall in the ANN-ex.
One year ago, come December 5, Tsuga left our lives.
Gandy is a full-time fill-in, working not-so-hard to establish her own unique place in the ecology of this family. She’ll turn one year in two weeks, 10 months with us come December 18.
I don’t know why I focused on this “studio shoot” of the dog, much preferring the ones of him running, digging for butterfly shadows, or playing toss-the-mole. Good memories. Good boy.
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ahhh
It is good to see good ole Tsuga again.
Good to see him – still sorry he left so soon.
In yet another weird coincidence, I was thinking about Tsuga this morning and wondering how Gandy is coming along. Then I come up to my office and catch up with Fragments to find that you have answered my query even before I send it! My son has a big red lab who spends his days with us while his dad is at work and he reminds me of your tales of Tsuga!
And as it turns out, not a minute before reading your comment, I acknowledged to myself (since I am the only one here, and also out loud to Gandy) that today she has been more affectionate and cooperative than I have ever known her. She has tended to evolve that way–more a punctuated equilibrium than gradualism, if I can lapse back into my biology-speak. Consequently, I have gotten more writing and correspondence done today than in a typical week of her nipping at my elbows while I try to type. She will relapse, most likely, but hopefully this is a sign of the Future Gandy. Oh joy!