So long, Panda.

you did good...

My mother just informed me that our dog Panda has died. She found him in his usual place near the doorway, lifeless. He was her faithful protector and friend for more than five years. Panda was my dog first though... My cousin Tox' wife Jenny gave him to me when he was a puppy because she was concerned that her newborn baby girl might get hurt since he was so rambunctious... he looked so adorable I immediately relented and took him home not thinking that I could not possibly take care of a puppy with my hectic hospital schedule.

So I asked my niece Girlie(who was about to leave for New Zealand)to take him home to my mother in Bicol... fooled by his cuteness, she readily agreed. Girlie would later tell me that he was such a pain in the 10-hour drive ( barking, crying, pooping), it was the worse trip she's ever had! Anyway, so Panda became my mother's dog that way. She's convinced that he's the epitome of an alpha dog--the other dogs, puppies and cats followed his lead. He chased away chickens and wannabe thieves from the farm and barked at anyone who got too close to our driveway.

My Mama is still baffled why he just suddenly died on her like that. But she was thankful to have had such a good, fiercely loyal companion... what she will miss the most was his gamboling around by her side in her backyard "farm". It's always sad to lose a much-loved pet... but such is life. We're all just here for a little while... so we should try to make each day count. Good Lord, I'm feeling melancholy...

*** pic courtesy of Girlie