I knew this month would be a hard one. You see, Dad went to be with Jesus January 25th, 2008. This month, I have dreaded.

Back in the 90's, our son Ryan graduated. We had many dogs throughout his life, including a golden retriever named Maggie Pi. But he always had to share them with his brother. So, he bought his first dog, a fluffly furball golden retriever, named Maggie. She was HIS dog.

 Soon she became my dog. Ken and I had divorced. Ryan lived with me and would go be with his friends at night. So, it was just me and Maggie in the house. I let her out on particular night and she threw fits. I could tell it wasn't at another dog.....there was someone near my backyard. I was talking to a friend online and told her I was going to see and if I wasn't back in 15 min. to call my dad, she had their #.

Went to grab the flashlight....hmmm no flashlight.BUT, Ken had left old faithful....a 30-06, but there was no clip! I grab it anyway...it looked mean.

So, I turned off lights and headed out the front, around the side to the fence. I quietly called Maggie, she'd come, then head off barking and growling to the back of the fence. Then I hear voices, male voices. I hollered to them and said this " If you think the dog barks big, what I've got in my hands barks bigger!" I hear vehicle doors slamming. wooooohoooooo, you did good Maggie and I think it's over........NOT!

They come around on our street, and park in the middle of the road at my neighbors, under the street light and one guy gets out and starts walking toward my house. I'm standing in the shadows. Deep breath, I cover where the clip is missing and level the sights on him and step out of the shadows. With not so christian words, I tell him I'll shoot. He runs back to the truck and they peel out, dragging his foot on the pavement.

Ryan drives up, sees me standing in the yard with the 06 and comes unglued on me.....he has the clip. He chases them and loses them. Then gives me a speech about using the shotgun....that jacking a shell into the chamber is a scary noise to anyone.

Maggie became my best friend that night, and from then on protected me.

She was the neighborhood dog. She quit eating and I couldn't understand why.....then I found out. The lady next door was feeding her scraps, the neighbor on the other side was feeding her canned dogfood and the elderly homebound lady across the street was feeding her through the dining room window!

When Ryan got married all the neighbors said he couldn't take Maggie...so she stayed with us.

We have a leash law, but the neighbors informed the police NOT to touch maggie, she guarded their homes and made them feel safe.

Maggie was old, no teeth, bladder probs, arthritis, gray hair....it was time.

Last night she passed away.

I have mixed emotions, I'm glad she's not suffering, but she was my protector, my friend, the neighborhood dog, our camping dog.......a true joy.

Maggie, I thank you for you devotion, protection and love. I'll miss you.