Rest in Peace Jasmine

Princess Jasmine Weidaw-Arnold

March 23, 1993 - May 31, 2008

On a warm Saturday morning, Jasmine left this world to enjoy her version of heaven... where every day is 60 degrees and sunny, the season is always fall with lots of leaf piles to play in, and pizza is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She is survived by her original Weidaw family (mom, dad and Blake) - and now her more recent Arnold family of "mom" and "dad," her loud and tail-pulling younger brother Frankie, a step-brother Chuey (from the wrong side of the tracks - who is in Chihuahua bliss at his new home with EIGHT other Chihuahuas), and the soon-to-arrive younger brother or sister. Her cousins Brewster and Rufus also must be listed here - as beloved Bichon Frise counterparts in other parts of the country.

For those of you who only knew Jasmine during her retirement in Arizona, I am sad for that. The first ten years of her life were much more robust (and friendly!) - with many people thinking she was just a puppy for most of it. What should have been the sunset years for Jasmine in AZ were far from it... she endured several desert attacks - a jumping cholla cactus, a King snake, a near Coyote massacre, and a terrible brown recluse spider bite that disabled her for months.

I prefer to revel in her spunky youth of running through Ohio grass, loving to snuggle, her disdain of men, serving as a pillow for a teenage girl's tears, and always, always greeting those she loved with complete body-convulsing happiness.

Some lessons that we can learn from my sweet Jasmine:

- No matter how much pain or suffering you may be enduring, pizza helps.

- Any place can be a vacation, even if that is simply hiding under a bed for eight hours.

- Fight rarely. There's very little that is worth getting that worked up over.

- Love fiercly, but be selective with who gets to be on the receiving end of that love.

- No matter how terrible your day has been, joy can and should always be found in spending time with those that you love.

- Even in old age... with few teeth, no vision or hearing, arthritis in both hips and very few "good moments" - you can and will be appreciated and celebrated by somebody.

I will miss you, Jasmine.

Spiritual Leader?

For those of you who have only known Keith and I since having a child - the thought of us being spiritual guides to a young impressionable child might not seem so far fetched. However, for those who have known us BF (before Frankie) - you're probably getting a good chuckle out of the fact that we are now the Godparents to our new niece Kamili. It was a beautiful ceremony in San Antonio last weekend... and in this long weekend trip out there, we've come to appreciate extended stay hotel rooms, the beauty of a child that sleeps the entire leg of a flight, and the help of a 10-pound dog to keep an 18-month-old entertained! Thanks, Rufus! Enjoy some of the pics from the weekend... good times.