Samantha, another of my little angels, went to join her sister Nala this morning.  Sam was almost 12 1/2 years old.  She was a really good dog who loved people.  If she hadn’t met you before you immediately became her best friend.  Meeting new people was like giving her a treat.

Samantha, February 6, 1996 -- July 21, 2008

She was a really good dog even when she was having ‘don’t-you-leave-me-alone issues’. The destruction included the stuff in the photo below as well as the living room carpet, part of the wall in the kitchen, a section of the vinyl flooring in the kitchen, a window sill in the living room, a flash for my 35 mm camera, and a plugged-in electrical cord that she yanked out of the outlet and chewed in half.  She and I came to an agreement; I would come home for lunch and she would stop chewing up stuff.

Sam liked water.  A lot.  Mix the water with dirt and you get this.

Sam was kind of fastidious.  She liked to be clean and to be groomed (except for the trimming of nails — she hated that).  Here she takes a shower after getting muddy.

For Samantha there was nothing better than going for a ride.  When I first got her I was told that she would try to sit in my lap as I was driving.  And that she would stare intently at the oncoming cars.  As the cars passed in the other direction, she would whip her head around to watch them disappear.  It was hilarious.

I suppose the one thing I will miss the most about Samantha is that she would be watching for me from the kitchen window.  Lucky me, the two young ones do the same thing.

Go find Nala, Sam!  I will love you for ever and ever, you were my very best friend.