In Loving Memory of 
LAKOTA LONG DOG
"LAKOTA"


March 23, 1992 ~ June 9, 2005
and
Muddy and Vassey

She was of a litter of eight. When we adopted Lakota, our friends Lynn and Brian also adopted from the same litter, Vassey, a brindle colored female, and Muddy, a large black male.

Pictured to the right are Brian & Muddy, Lynn & Vassey, Me & Lakota, Bruce & our ferret Marley Bear, and Bryan's friend Steve.

Muddy and Lakota's characteristics, size and color were so close that Lynn and I would often play some antics on our husbands by switching the collars of the two dogs. 

Full grown, all three dogs weighed well over a hundred and thirty pounds, with Muddy being the largest.

The pups, with their proud new owners. 1992

Lakota, Muddy & Vasey.

Lakota's first Christmas.

Lakota at Myrtle Beach. This photo was taken in the early 1990's when pets were not so readily accepted as guests in Hotel rooms. Even at five months old, she was already quite large to be sneaking beneath one's jacket.

Lakota's first birthday.
My husband Bruce and Lakota on the left, and my brother Gregg and Quervos on the right. Quervos was another of Lakota's siblings.

Myself and Lakota. 1993

Lakota Long Dog goes to school.

  1992

Graduation.

Lakota with Baby Blue.

1999

Myrtle Beach
 

Christmas with her friend Magic
1992

Lakota, 11 yrs. old.
July, 2003

Vasey, 11 yrs. old.
Sept. 07th, 2003.

2004 REUNION

The girls made it another year...We took Lakota up to the Poconos to visit with her sister Vasey over Memorial Day weekend. Both of them have slowed down and have a difficult time with their hind legs, and in climbing the stairs, but their spirits are as strong and young as ever. As always, they were so happy to see each other.

The old girls at 12 years old.

Bruce and Lakota.


Me and Lakota, 2004.

Me and Lakota, Alex, Lynn and Vassey.



Alex and Vasey.

Kiowa sharing cake on Lakota's 13th Birthday.

After a severe stroke on June 3 of 2005, Bruce and I realized that we had no option but to have Lakota euthanized. We cancelled our plans to go to a Civil War Re-enactment and spent the weekend with her up on the land. I had hoped to take her to visit Vassey one last time, but after suffering a second stroke on June 8th, we decided it was time to let her go.

When Sage was born and I had used the lyrics to the song "Here I Am" on my web page, I had no idea of the significance that it would play in my life. 

~Right after we had Lakota euthanized, the song came on the radio as I was walking into a convenience store...
 

While the song played, Lakota left me with one final memory... I saw her united with her brother Muddy, romping through a field of bright yellow buttercups... youthful, agile, and alive as ever.

Pila ma ya ye, Kola. 

HERE I AM
           by Bryan Adams

Here I am ~ this is me
There's no where else on earth I'd rather be
Here I am ~ it's just me and you
And tonight we make our dreams come true.

It's a new world ~ it's a new start
It's alive with the beating of 
~ young hearts
It's a new day ~ it's a new plan
I've been waiting for you.
Here I am.

Here we are ~ we've just begun
And after all this time 
~ our time has come.
Ye here we are ~ still going' strong.
Right here in the place where we belong.

Here I am ~ next to you
And suddenly the world is all brand new.
Here I am ~ Where I'm gonna stay
Now there's nothin' standin in our way
Here I am ~ this is me.

Muddy

With regret, Muddy passed away in the summer of 2003 at the age of 11. He is dearly missed, though for Brian & Lynne, some of his most memorable moments were his numerous encounters with the Porcupine.

Vassey

Three loving companions that gave so freely and offered so much.  We shall not forget you.

May your spirits dance in the wind,
and may your voices continue to be our teachers.

PILA MA YA YE, KOLA.