"Little Mac" - Patrick Yandall, 2005

Today was the birthday of my beloved Westie, Mac, who died in 2001. He was born in 1985. So I was just thinking that he would have been 23 today, had he lived. Sadly, dogs just don't live that long.

I miss him every day.

Although Mac can never be replaced, John and I are planning to get a Westie puppy late this year or in 2009. I just can't live without a doggie much longer, and John feels the same. He and Mac had quite a close relationship, too, even though they only saw each other a couple of times a year.

Anyway, to honor Mac's birthday today, I'd like to post the following photo:




These are dear friends in Houston -- Winston (the dog) and his human brothers Lee and William. I miss them (and their mom and dad) a lot, and I haven't gotten to see any of them for over a year.

Winston, I believe, is my Mac reincarnated.

Here's the story. Melanie & Brian moved into one of the apartments across from where I lived in Houston during some of the last weeks of Mac's life. I didn't meet them when they first moved in. But only a few days after I had to have Mac put to sleep, I went to the mailboxes to get my mail; and what should I see but a pretty young woman with a teeny little Westie puppy! I just burst into tears, which has never been the best way to meet a new neighbor. Anyway, over the weeks and months which followed, I got very close to Melanie and her husband Brian, and Winston became part of my extended family, too. And he was -- and still is -- a 2/3rd's size version of my Mac! It's just uncanny how much he's like Mac.

Melanie just posted the photo of Winston (who is now 6) and his two human brothers today. I just had to give it some wider viewing!

And I couldn't help but think of Mac.

Janet