Monday, November 16, 2009

Snickers - March 28, 1995-November 16, 2009

My daughter Anna wrote a wonderful tribute to our precious Snickers who was put to rest today.
Snickers Brimberry was the first addition to the Brimberry family, born May 28th 1995. I remember harassing the Sarjeant family, our neighbors a few houses down, when Bailey (sp?), their precious Golden Retriever, was pregnant with her first litter. Both Butner and I were home schooled at the time, and any free time I had, I spent with those puppies, in the Sarjeant's garage.
I will always remember looking at Bailey’s puppies fighting for food and the one tiny runt of the litter squealing, squirming, and attempting to nudge her brothers and sisters out of the way. This runt was given the name Snickers by the Sarjeant’s because she was darker than the other puppies and well, we were young and she looked like a Snickers bar.
After crying, begging and pleading with my parents for one of the puppies they gave in! I knew once my parents saw the puppies; they would be just as in love with them as I was. I was right!!
That day was one of the happiest for me as a child. I had never wanted something so wholeheartedly and my reality set in; I was getting a Golden Retriever puppy. There was that agonizing torture of having to wait 6 weeks before we could take her home, even worse when my parents said we could get her and she was still too young to be taken away from her mother. But finally the day came; Butner and I pulled out a red wagon and followed out parents down the street to pick up Snickers Brimberry.
July 4th 1995 my family fell head over heals in love with Snickers, and she with us. On that day the thought never hit me that one day this precious animal would one day no longer be around.
It’s so easy to love an animal; because they don’t have conditions you have to meet to gain their love. I believe that’s because they know nothing else but love to give and all they really want back is to be loved.
July 4th 1995 through November 16th 2009, Snickers Brimberry brought love and joy into each of the lives of my family member, love and joy that we hadn’t known was missing until Snickers came into our hearts and showed us.

Snickers you are irreplaceable. I cried when I got you, and I cried when I lost you. I won’t forget the time in between though, the happy times; rather not mourn your death but celebrate your long lived life.