A fond farewell to Sashi

WHAT’S SO FUNNY

Usually this space is just for laughs, or possible laughs (the title

“What’s so Funny” cuts two ways, I know), but today I’m using it for

a goodbye.

Our keeshond Sashi was diagnosed with cancer, an aggressive and

inoperable kind, a few months ago. She was able to enjoy life, or

bits of it, until shortly after we returned from our recent trip to

Polynesia. Then we had to put her down. She was a month shy of 11

years old.

Here’s a quick look at our memory book:

First off, Sashi was gorgeous. Her parents were show fold, and she

was quite stunning despite my indifferent brushing; she won

“Fluffiest Dog” at the dog park competition when she was 2. Strangers

would take her picture. She thought her last name was

“Whatabeautifuldog.”

She had brains too -- an extensive vocabulary of understood

phrases, although not as extensive as I have her credit for. I had a

habit of telling her my career plans; she listened attentively in

hopes of hearing on of her key words.

Dog humor: Sashi enjoyed a game in which I would say, “I’m just

walking along, la-la-la,” and then make a sudden spring to “get” her.

I would always miss, because as soon as I said “la-la-la” she would

leap away. To her this routine was a classic, like “Who’s on First.”

She loved kittens and tolerated them as cats. She had a strong

sense of guilt and invented her own punishment; if she got caught

stealing she’d go sit facing a corner.

Sashi deferred to Patti Jo and me and our son Keaton, but she

thought she was our daughter Katie’s sister, which led to some

competitiveness. At Katie’s fifth (Power Rangers) birthday party,

Sashi danced along with the girls and spun around when they did. She

accompanied Katie to Top of the World School, as far as she could,

and waited for her to come up the hill from Thurston Middle School.

She liked to get up on our couch and sleep on her back as if she’d

had too much wine.

On one of her final outings, Katie and I took her to Alta Laguna

Park, where she perked up despite her fatigue. As we left, she

glanced up and saw a kite about 12 feet off the ground. For one last

time she was a surprised puppy; she actually did a take.

Well, everybody’s dog is special.

George Carlin said when you get a dog, you’re buying a tragedy. We

are still recovering from ours. But we’ll eventually do it again.

Sashi taught us we need a dog to make a family whole.