She would have been 119 years old this October. Carol and I knew the end was near. She went down fast. It was time. She was suffering when she passed away late Saturday afternoon.

In all the time I knew her, she was special. She was always happy. Before the past couple of days, the only time I can remember when she wasn’t happy was when her long time companion passed away some 10 years ago.

I saw she was hurting pretty bad Saturday afternoon and I knelt by her bed and held her. She seemed to calm down and went to sleep. I went outside to get my supplies ready to go to the Taste of Clarendon later that evening. My buddy Scott was coming by to pick them up. She was still asleep when I went in to take a shower and get ready to go to the Taste.

Carol was at her side when she passed away. When I walked in the room, I could tell by Carol’s face that she was gone.

She had lived a very good life after a tough beginning. Her mother abandoned her shortly after her birth. With no other family willing to take her, a young couple with two young boys and a dog took her in and raised her as one of the family. She was lucky. This family took her in and loved her and took care of her as if she was just another member of the family.

Carol and I gave a young orphaned girl a home in the late 1980s. Lee was starting her senior year in high school and worked part time at the veterinary clinic Carol worked at. She had been living with her aunt. The situation with her aunt was not good and she needed a place to live.

I was a full time college student going to school on my GI Bill and was working three part time jobs. We didn’t have much, but we had more than Lee and she needed our help. After much discussion, I agreed to let Lee come live with us and finish her senior year of high school.

She was a good girl. She helped out when she could. We added a little more water to the soup and made it stretch. Our oldest son Spencer gave up his room and bunked with his younger brother Joe.

Lee ended up graduating high school and entered the working world, got her own place and moved on. She has always kept in touch over the years. I’m proud of her and what she became.

I’m glad we sucked it up and made a place in our home for her. She needed us. I guess in a way we needed her. It’s funny how God creates circumstances.

The elderly maiden who was living with us when she passed away Saturday night needed us also. She depended on Carol and I (mostly Carol) for everything.

Toward the end, I had built ramps so she could manage the stairs. Carol was fixing special meals that our elderly family member could digest. We would take turns checking on her and attending to her needs.

She had lived with us for almost 17 years. Life is not the same without her.

I hope she’s in heaven, reunited with her long time companion Peanut Dowell (the smartest dog I’ve ever known). Rest in peace, Orphan The Dog Dowell. Memorials may be sent to the Animal Shelter of Clarendon County.