SATURDAY WAS A VERY BUSY DAY

On Saturday, Lacey had an early morning appointment to check her hematocrit. It was UP to 19.5, not a big increase but moving in the right direction. Since she was already in the van, we asked the vet if she could visit Converse Home, as she always does on Saturday morning. She could stay in the van. and people could come out to visit her. The vet said OK, and off we went!

When we arrived, I went in and invited several of Lacey's friends to come see her. I explained that she had emergency surgery -- a tumor removed, and her spleen removed -- and that she was on the mend. I asked people to help her heal with love and happy thoughts.

Well, what a response! All her friends came out. Gail sat with her a long while, touching her gently, sharing love. There was total silence, just a knowing and sharing friendship of several years that needs no words. Lacey's energy got strong, and I lifted her out. She walked around, peed, and stopped to visit with several people, which is her job there. Then I lifted her back into the van, and we realized we had not seen Connie.

Someone went to get Connie! When she arrived, she was very upset to learn so suddenly that Lacey had an emergency, but when she saw her it was reassuring. Connie wasted no time getting right in the van with Lacey -- just like when Lacey went to see Connie in the hospital and jumped right upon her bed! Connie stayed close by Lacey until the last minute to go to lunch. Again, there was that quiet, trembling knowing and sharing of love between friends. I can hardly describe it, and hope I have come close to conveying the deep feeling of this time. Lacey is so lucky to have so many friends.

When we got home, it was back in the van for a road trip to visit Dr. Marceau in Sharon, VT. Lacey wanted to come up on the porch and visit with everyone. There was a little boy there who was playing with toys. Lacey lay near him and napped while the boy played. We thought that she was probably remembering her first family, the Gavins -- Amanda, Marie, Kenny, Jonathan, John and Lynn. I used to say their names to Lacey so she would have the comfort of familiar sounds. She would wag her tail, and I knew she remembered them. And her other first family, the LeBria's who raised Sierra and Lacey's litter from birth. We're so grateful that Lacey lived with love, every minute of her life.