Always In Our Hearts

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Tribute To Oscar - My Inspiration

Sunday was a tough day to wake up. My first thoughts were of Oscar, and Katy & Martin (his mum and dad). My hooman girl and I had a down and dirty talk about how we were feeling, and we decided that we both wanted to follow Oscar's example and live, play, wrassle, run, and love like there's no tomorrow!


My inspiration: Oscar Boy running in the rain with a buddy.



So, in keeping with that commitment and with the idea of celebrating Oscar, we kept our date to play with my buddy Hercules at the dog park. We talked with Herc and his mom about Oscar and we played!! I realized that for me, one of the best ways to honor my buddy is to give myself some time to do some grieving and some playing every day.


Here are some of the images of our day together.

Me runnin' like the WIND!!






Here's the south end of 3 northbound dogs. (That's me and Herc following our new buddy, Boobee - yep, that's his real name. We were told it's Albanian for "Fido").




Wrasslin with Boobee.



Funky close up of my game face.




Then we took it into the water! Look at Boobee's fierce wrasslin' face. He plays hard!







We met this sassy Boston girl, Lala. (It must be noted that while she is a cutie and sassy, she is NOWHERE near as cute, sassy, and captivating as my Ruby. Plus my Ruby has a bootiful brindle coat and does not look like an Oreo cookie. Mmmm... Oreos...) I digress...




Lala got us all riled up and then stopped to watch the fun. That girl knew she was workin' it!




Taking a breather.






This was probably the most surreal and inspirational siting of the day. This little puggy boy was tearing up the water swimming WAY OUT into the deep part of the pond fetching his ball. Yes, he was outfitted with a cute little orange life jacket, but he was SWIMMING!






I could only stand on the sidelines watching him in complete AWE at his swimming prowess.






Then I decided it was time to go for it! I wandered out over my head and actually had to SWIM (not just wade in the water). When I first realized I wasn't touching the bottom of the pond any more, I reared way up out of the water & took some big strokes before settling down into a more relaxed swim. My girl didn't catch much of the actual swimming... I think she was in shock that I actually did it.





After all that excitement, we bellied up to the open bar before heading home. Here's Herc getting ready to get is drink on.





Here's Herc all doggled-up and ready to motor on home.



We had a blast!! It felt good to talk about Oscar, feel my sadness, and run and play all at the same time. I sure do miss my buddy, but am learning to move through the sadness with the help of his example and my Herc. Thanks, guys! I love you both! Oscar's influence on the world continues!


Love,
Stanley

32 comments:

Ruby Bleu said...

Stanny...
I like the way you are thinking...you are an inspiration to us all on how to deal with losing a dear friend. I am in paw of you for that!

OK, so BooBee...that is an unfortunate name now isn't it. He totally must get kidded at the doggie park. Poor guy, guess that is why he was getting his 'mean' on playing.

I'm very proud and impressed with your swimming you've come a long way from your visit last month to the farm. Tell your girl I need more videos on that, ok?

And finally...thanks for the shout out *blush*. Oh, and I play just like Lala...maybe it is a Boston thing???

OK, that's enough rambling. Lots of Loving Licks, Ruby

P(ee)S: Tell Herc I LOVE the HercMobile!!!

The Airechicks said...

Stanley:

OMDog - what a wonderful day you and Herc had...Looks like everyone had soo much fun....

SWIMMING ..you Stanley....WOW

Oscar would have LUV your day !!

Thank you so much for sharing...

wally said...

Hey---Those were great pictures and movies! It was almost like I was there. Except I would have been bossing everyone around. I LOVE the picture of the three butts! Awesome! It doesn't get better than the Republic of Gooberstan.

woober wally.

Jen and Suki said...

I really enjoyed that picture of the south end of you northbound dogs. It looks like you are having so much fun, Stanley.

Why do you Airedales wear doggles? Just wondering. Mommy and I have never seen that before! And they are adoooorrable!

Peanut said...

Stanley my man,
What a great way to remember oscar. You look like you were having a ton of fun. Wish I could have been there

Bogart H. Devil said...

I'm gonna have to bust out my Doggles again, Herc is lookin' too good with his on (he's got the same Bogie-mobile I do except mine isn't topless)...

And that pug in the life vest.. priceless.

Love,
Bogart

Huskee and Hershey said...

The spirit of oscar lives on!! Thanks for sharing your fun-filled day!! I am totally impressed with your swimming!!

Lorenza said...

Hi, Stanley.
You are right. We have to live exactly like Oscar would do it. We will always remember him.
Glad you had fun there with all your friends.
Have a good night
Lorenza

Luckie Girl said...

Hey Stanley,
It looks really fun..running, playing and just seize the day!!
Your friend is almost as good looking as you. hehe....

PreciOus said...

Hey Stanley man, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I'm gonna head your advice. =)

I see you finally really swimming! I'm so proud of you! Way to go!

Snuggle,
Precious

Amber-Mae said...

Oh yeah, I can see how much you're having fun! That Lala is a sooper runner & you all can't seem to catch up with her, heehee! My mommy loves to see us run freely in a huge field coz she says it's really beautiful to see us run free like that... I LOVE it too!

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Chilli the Dog said...

Hiya Stanley!!

I totally agree with you. Oscar was such a fun loving boy and I'm quite sure he would not want us to continue mopping around so much.

Good work on the swimming! I'm sure with time, you'll be a swimming champion :)

Wet licks

Chilli

Boo Casanova said...

wow, boobee's fierce face really scary! i'm blown away!

that was good of you to enjoy your time with friends. i'm sure oscar love to run wild you dogs too.

btw, bobby is my cousin. i've known him since the day i join the family. he's the one taught me how to wrestling like a real grown up!

wet wet licks

Boo

Girl Girl Hamster said...

Woh you doggies sure had lots of fun. Yeah we should live life to the fullest now

~ girl girl

Faya said...

This is the best we can do... just run, run, run, and swimm (well the other one because I don't swimm), jump, play and all this with friends.... Herc looks cool.... Big kisses, Faya

Molly the Airedale said...

What a super day you had! The swimming pictures are just awesome! I love Hercules in his doggles! He's too funny!

Love ya lots,
Maggie

fee said...

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} thanks stan, for showing me how to deal with my gloomy mood. i love you too! *sobs* just seeing how nice and warm everyone is makes me want to cry again. i've been a real baby.

*wipes eyes* can i come swimming with u next time?

loves,
fee

Balboa said...

What a great day you had stanley,

Poor Boobee, its like that country song, I think by Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue". He's probably one tough dude, hee hee

I think thats a great way to tribute Oscar.

Great job swimming,

Oh, BTW, if I was a goober, I think I prefer Boober, I just hope that's not too close to "Boobee", hee hee.

Frenchie Snorts
Balboa

Putter said...

Stanley!

Good thinking as I agree, this is what Oscar would have wanted ...:)

Sounds like you had one DOG of a day! Herc sounds like one coolest dude I tell ya! I wanna get me some goggles now!:)

Awesome on the swimming!

Any more ice cream yet???

Your Friend,

Putter ...:)

Clover said...

Hi Stanley,

You look like you had so much fun playing! I was excited to see the puggy swimming too...hehe the other dogs were watching him like "what the eff?" ...haha. Oops, don't tell mom I almost swore.

Love Clover xo

Ferndoggle said...

Boobee's got some big teefers!!

I think that is exactly how Oscar would like you pay tribute to him.

Lola
(waahhh...Mom can't see the videos!)

Tadpole said...

That just might be the best tribute to Oscar that I've seen! I could almost SEE his light-hearted, playful spirit in YOU! Awesome! He would be so proud!

And I cannot stop chuckling at that puggy in his life jacket! Ha!

Jackson's J1 and J2 said...

Boobee???? What kind of name is that?!
Great vids!

J x

Tadpole said...

I am being forced to use my brother's name as I leave this comment, so I'm VERY sorry for that. But firstly, I need to address a request you presented in my journal. Thank you very much, but I DO NOT need another little brother. Sorry. We can agree to be friends, but that's where I draw the line. And it's better for YOU if I don't think of you like a brother because I DO NOT LIKE IT. And I think I might like you. Especially since you said you like Bostons. I'm a sucker for flattery. And you like my boyfriend, too. So we're friends now. Right?

Secondly, what an unfortunate doggin to be named BooBee. And he's a boy too. Give him my condolences.

Thirdly, I think this is a GREAT way to work through the death of such a great friend like Oscar. I would go to a park and run around too, except I'm not allowed to run off-leash because I like to bite all the other dogs and terrorize them until they cower in fear before me. *shrug* What can I say.

Talk to you later, my friend,
Fig
(NOT Tadpole)

Suki & Joey said...

Oh my gosh, I am so jealous of all the fun you have at the park, Stanny! You guys have so much fun :)

You're right, that Lala is nowhere near as bootiful as our Ruby; she's not even as FAST as her, either!

Oh, and that Puggy boy is cracking me up!! Most of us Pugs need life jackets when we swim, as we're not really the best swimmers, but he was rockin' it! :)

Puggy kisses
Suki

Joe Stains said...

STAN you met a BOSTON! I am so excited, I bet that was fun. Also, someone needs to tell that pug that us short nosed dogs are not supposed to swim and um that I might be a TINY bit scared of swimming a little bit maybe!

Koobuss said...

Oh Stan,

What great pictures of the fun day you had. I especially like the swimming pictures. You are such an athlete! Glad you have fun with Hercules. It's so nice to have such a good friend to play with.

Lots of Koobuss Kisses,
Your friend,
Koobie

Sunshade said...

Dear Stanley,

Ever since your first message to me on Dogster, I have been trying to convince myself that YOU are not a STINKY, that YOU are nothing like MY STINKY, that YOU are way more handsome and attractive than MY STINKY...

However, that photo of you from your post, yea, THAT one, you know which one have me doubting if I was wrong about you all along.

Really Stanley, take a look at these three pictures, and tell me YOU are not like him:

(http://bp3.blogger.com/_RS4Ox54bhgg/RguIUzFjdKI/AAAAAAAADiE/KGLfUYW7UFA/s1600-h/17.jpg)

(http://bp3.blogger.com/_RS4Ox54bhgg/RhSOwcLIMxI/AAAAAAAAD5A/lZIi1jMLl88/s1600-h/18.jpg)

(http://bp0.blogger.com/_RS4Ox54bhgg/Ri_U4p49x2I/AAAAAAAAEL4/TFrJ9QBI224/s1600-h/rabies.jpg)

If you tell me you are not like him, I'll believe you because I trust my friends. But please, be honest with me, if you and him are long lost brothers, just tell me.

I appreciate your honesty Stan...

Love nibbles,
Miss Sunshade

Quinvale AstaLaVista Baby said...

G'day Stanley,

I'm glad you had a fun day playing. Mum says I have to keep my hat.

xxx Asta down under

Lizzy said...

Wow, what fun you must have had! I've never seen a swimming pug before.

Sparky

Unknown said...

Hey Stanley my man! Whew! That was a rockin' day! I am so ready to run like the wind tomorrow...Mom said I have to rest today and eat plenty of carbs so I can be on top of my game. I guess we'll see if it works! Are you going to try to swim again? I wonder how many lady dales will be there tomorrow? I be we'll be the best looking studs!

See you tomorrow!

Princess, Tank and Isaac: The Newfs of Hazard said...

Stanley! You're a SWIMMER! Congratulations! If you want, we'd meet you there and promise to be on time!