This is Spot.
This is Spot’s sister, Bess.
Spot is fourteen.
Bess is four. Yes, the age gap, you say — large for siblings. So much for family planning.
When Bess came…
Spot was placed in the position of being not just a big sister but also a quasi-parent.
Bess…
has emerged…
from a tempestuous…
adolescence.
Bess has a 54-pound advantage over Spot, but the power dynamic between the two sisters favors Spot.
I love my girls equally. I see aspects of myself in both of them.
Bess fills the paw prints left by Cookie, shown napping here.
Cookie’s ashes. She died suddenly at the vet’s during a routine physical. Chaga’s Disease — a parasite that attacks the heart, introduced by the bite of the kissing bug.
EthicalDative 
I’m sorry for your dog’s sudden death. 😦 I haven’t heard about Chaga’s Disease in many years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words. I had never heard of Chaga’s. The necropsy performed on Cookie brought that diagnosis. Ironically, she collapsed in the exam room at the vets as we awaited her routine physical checkup. She had shown no symptoms. I’m comforted that at least in that circumstance she received immediate professional care to revive her, though it proved fruitless. I’m intrigued that you had heard of the disease. I wonder what your contact with it was? Your blog is lovely. Best regards.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi – So nice of you to comment here. It was many years ago, but we studied Chagas Disease in my second year medical school parasitology class – but briefly. Reading your post prompted me to clean out the cobwebs with google. Your poor sweet Cookie…I am glad she had not been ill and that she passed surrounded by people who truly cared. Somehow, that is a small comfort.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you will be posting more pictures of the sisters. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely feedback. Thank you. What an interesting background you have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the photo with Bess on her back on the carpet, what is the picture on the easel??
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s one of my dad’s watercolors depicting ranchers branding livestock in a pen. I’ll re-post it (along with others) soon in “Parting Looks” so they’re easier to see. Thanks for looking at this earlier post.
LikeLike