Today, Jasmine Would Have Been Ten Years Old

We so wished she had made it—she was so close! 

Jasmine Rade
August 3, 2003 - April 12, 2013

We have so wished she could have enjoyed at least one more summer at her ranch. And she would have really loved it this year, with the temperatures being so nice and cool.

Jasmine, August 2003

Almost ten years is a decent age for a Rottie, particularly one who had faced all the health challenges that Jasmine has. More importantly, with the exception of short periods of medical disasters, she lived a full and happy life. She never held back, her zest for life was phenomenal.

Almost ten years, was that enough? Not to us it wasn't.

But so wouldn't have been eleven or twelve. We might have felt a bit better about the time she's got but we would have missed her just as much.

"George Bernard Shaw lived (almost) a hundred years. Is that a lot? No, because he could have lived another hundred years and he'd still have something to say."
~Jan Werich, actor, playwright and writer


That's how I feel about Jasmine. She'd still have places to go, people to see, autographs to sign (literally), things to sniff, steaks to eat, love to give, lives to change.

Boating. Not really Jasmine's favorite thing, so we didn't do it again.

She certainly changed my file.

Through her journey, she helped other dogs and her story can continue to do so. That is her legacy. She also saved Bruin's life and is about to save another—we are looking to adopt a Rottie to honor her memory.

I've learned so much because of her.

I just wish I would have known what I know now from the start. Jasmine would have deserved somebody who knew what the heck they were doing all along. But our journey, as it were, has made me what I am today. It wouldn't have happened any other way. And it had to be Jasmine.

No other dog could have ever made me love so much, try so hard, learn so diligently. No other dog could have made me what I am today.

I've put everything into making her happy, taking care of her, learning how to conquer her medical issues and how to make her life good.

Jasmine's "den" under the trailer.

However much I wish things had happened differently, the love we shared cannot be taken away from us.

Jasmine, my life will be forever be different because of you, and I will love you always. It was a privilege to have you in our lives and we are grateful for for every day and every minute we got to spend with you.

While we mourn Jasmine's absence, we celebrate the gift of the time we did get to share.

Because Jasmine cannot enjoy her birthday steak today, we have donated 20 pounds of dog food to our vet's pet food bank. Because we cannot take Jasmine for her birthday walk, we are taking a walk down the memory lane.

We cannot give any more good things to Jasmine but we can honor her memory in everything we do.

Jasmine celebrating her 9th birthday

From the communicator:
She is doing just fine, she tells me, and she shows me an image of her running full out in a field, her nose up in the air as if chasing a scent, her ears flopping as she runs.

Jasmine, you are in our hearts forever.

***

Related articles:
The Bond That Cannot Be Severed 
Memories Of Jasmine: Camping 
Memories Of Jasmine: The Treasure Keeper
Memories Of Jasmine: Best Buddies 
Memories Of Jasmine: The Lost Forest 
Treatments Jasmine Benefited From The Most 
Memories Of Jasmine: Remix 4 
Memories Of Jasmine: Remix 3
Making The Last Decision
Memories Of Jasmine: Remix 2
Memories Of Jasmine: Remix 1
Jasmine's Last Happy Days Before The Final Crisis
The Last Act Of Love: Run Free, Jasmine
Pain, Reaction To Narcotics Or Something Else? Please Pray For Jasmine
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Jasmine's Neck Setback  
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Jasmine's Disc Injury: Mom, Why Can't I Go For A Walk?
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Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Interdigital Cyst Update  
Is Crawling Under Things Some Kind Of Secret Physical Therapy?  
Is There No Place Safe? Jasmine's Acupuncture Session
Senior Sensory Systems Function: Zero Defects  
It Looks Like A Keeper: Jasmine's New Integrative Vet 
Jasmine's Acute Lameness
Jasmine Doesn't Like "Doing Time"
Our Of Jail Free Pass
When It's Looks Too Good To Be True … The Lameness Returns
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From Zero To Sixty In Four Days: Stem Cells At Work
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No Skimping On Oral Care 
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How Dogs Think (Well, Jasmine Anyway)
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Arthritis? What Arthritis? 
Guess Who Is An Ever-Ready Bunny And Really Liking The Bit Of Snow We Got? 
Don't Knock It Until You Tried It: Animal Chiropractic 
Jasmine's Fur Analysis
Back At Chiropractic Care 
Our Own Emergency Vet Horror (Part I)
Our Own Emergency Vet Horror (Part II) 
How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury
Meet Jasmine

Comments

  1. I am trying to type through my tears... I had all the same wishes when Emily, my Christmas kitty (because I adopted her in December) who passed the day after Thanksgiving didn't get to sit under the Christmas tree one more time and when Tynan left us in May and didn't get to soak up the summer sun with his velvet black fur one more time... But you are SO right that one more time wouldn't have been enough. A thousand more times wouldn't have... Tynan and Emily have been gone four and three years respectively and while I have made peace with knowing that it is just my selfish wish to have had one more season with my beloveds I still struggle with wishing I had done a better job of savoring each moment that I had them in my lives. Thank you for this post and reminding me that I did my best for them at the time and I still do every day...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your lovely comment.

      Well, I'm sure Jasmine would have loved one more summer at her ranch and one more birthday steak too. But it wasn't meant to be.

      However much time we get with our beloved dogs, it's never enough. We have to be thankful for the time we did have.

      But it's hard. "One more, daddy, one more ..."

      Love, though, is everlasting.

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  2. What a loving tribute. I can hardly type as the tears roll from my yes. I too have felt loss over oh so many of my loved ones. God only gives them to us for a little while.

    I did have two to live till 19 and one to live to 15. It was just not long enough. Forever would have been long enough.

    My forevers are gone now. Only left with the memories.

    Mommy loves you.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, and (((hugs))) for all your lost babies. We loved and lost dogs before too. Jasmine, she was something else. She really affected us to the core.

      The love and the memories remain. And in Jasmine's case, her legacy also.

      Delete
  3. There can never be "enough" time with our beloved furry family members. So nice of you to make a donation in her memory.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jackie. You're right, it would have never been enough time. I so miss doing things for her. So instead, I can at least do things to honor her memory.

      Delete
  4. A sweet tribute to your dear Jasmine. Nothing can ever replace her in your hearts, but your heart can grow to love more. Good luck with your new adoptee. I'm sure Jasmine will be there in spirit to guide you.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. No, nothing can ever replace her or come even close. She's forever in our hearts and all we'll do will be to honor her memory and the love we shared.

      Delete
  5. It is never long enough. I am so sorry for your loss.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rebekah. No, it's never enough. But one still wishes it could have been a little longer. At least a little longer ...

      Delete
  6. Happy Birthday sweet Jasmine. I know what you mean Jana, one more day is far too short and forever just doesn't seem long enough. I will say, that I beleive Jasmine felt more love in her limited years than even some of the most cherished dog do in their lifetime. There was never any doubt that she was a very lucky girl indeed.

    It comes as no surprise to me that you are doing lovely things in Jasmine's memory and whatever rottie gets to join your family will be truly blessed indeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Koly.

      I think I would have settled for forever.

      Jasmine certainly got all the love she could handle and then some. Nobody would have even loved her so much, that I'm sure of.

      Delete
  7. A loving and beautiful tribute to a loving and beautiful girl. Sending a hug your way.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. She certainly never suffered from love withdrawals.

      Delete

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