things I learned from Bwindi Sue

Here is an ever-growing list of things I learned over the past 6 years from my dog.

• adjust and be flexible - you can be happy living in Washington or in Michigan
• tenacity is a virtue
• listen intently but don't be afraid to speak
  
• survey the room and make sure everyone is doing alright - occasionally walk around and give people special attention
• know when enough is enough and go and lay down in the shade
• obey commands, but do them with a flourish and with your own special touch
  
• stay informed and attuned to your surroundings
• be a good friend and family member
• enjoy new toys but don't be afraid to break them in
• don't be afraid of water
• protect young children, the elderly and people that are fragile
• be a good role-model and example
  
• run hard while you can
• go for long walks with the people you love, even in the winter
• greet your old, regular friends like you haven't seen them in years - make sure your eyes light up and your tail wags
• don't whine
  
• age with grace
• leave the world more full than when you were born into it

If you have any thoughts to share or lessons you learned from your time with Bwindi, please make a comment below.

we lost her

Bwindi Sue passed away at 10:30am on July 21, 2007.

EDIT: Here are some pictures of Bwindi from Matt and Ruth that I wanted to add. I just want to keep the "comment" post at the top of the list.

bwindi sue

We got word this week that we are going to lose Bwindi Sue to Canine Lymphoma. She turned 10 this spring, and we were looking forward to many more years of her helping us raise Levi. She is on a medication that will help to ease the pain, but most of the research I've done says things can go pretty quickly after the time of diagnosis. It's hard not to have hope when she acts like her old self and greets you with a wagging tail when you get home. So please think about our family as we love on our little cancer patient.