Li'l Man In Memoriam
Li'l Man, you were as sweet a love to your momma and me as any pet we ever owned. You seemed to be so dedicated to your self-appointed lifetime task of protecting your momma and Pixie (our other Chihuahua) that you could never let your guard down with many others. You did let our Daughter, Lois (whom you made little distinction with from Rose), my mother in her last years, my sister, Viv, and our friend Carol (they both spoke softly and moved slowly) see that you were really just a soft lover-boy. To all else you had to maintain your untrusting, protective stance of a knight in shinning black fur protecting his ladies - and one ol' man, me. You were one of the only dogs I ever knew who didn't even trust our opinion of who was "all right" and who might not be. After all though, that and the vocal protests it generated were your only real fault. You stayed to do your job of love almost a full year past Pixie's reign, bringing you also to her departing age. We pray that now you play at the "Bridge" with Pixie and your other old friends, no longer sporting the large tumor (though it never gave you pain) and with your sight returned. Bless you for the blessings you bestowed on us all those years. You and Pixie stayed so much longer than any of our other pets, during those years when we needed your love the most.
He always amazed me with his complete devotion to Pixie and Rose. Oh, he loved me but he adored them. Li'l Man "picked" rose (every bit as much as Pixie had earlier) from the instant she sat right down on the showing room floor with them. He was one out of litter of tiny, black fur-balls. Then he gave me just enough time to make sure I would be agreeable to her choice of him. I guess he didn't (at that time) realize that if he chose her and she chose him he was home safe with me no matter what. When we got him home and he found Pixie there (among others) it was like he had found a bonus he couldn't believe. During most of his first year he pretty much loved everyone who came in but as he became more dedicated to his protective roll he became more "Li'l Man". Rose and I spoke often of how if Pixie went first he would be lost and go downhill fast. He must have known what was best for his lifelong love and pal though. When it came her time, he never even looked for her one time after she left nor showed any sign she was gone. She might not have been gone to him. We were amazed even more when he chose to stay almost another year. Maybe that was to equal the time Pixie gave us and make the loss of her easier on his Mistress Rose (and me). Thank God we had others to make his leaving easier in turn. Later we would even be able to (and needed to) get another Chihuahua who would also "pick" Rose. Do you suppose they all link with each other somehow? I do!
