Tributes

September 2010 - August 2022

Barley

Light a Candle for Barley

About Barkle

Golden Retriever

Los Angeles, CA

Roast chicken skin

Shallow river water, tennis balls

She knew her name and 'viens', though she used both at her own discretion.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Visitors. She disappeared entirely and reappeared the moment the door closed behind them.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

Balcony in the morning, wardrobe until three, balcony again for the sun, then the sofa for the evening.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She sat in the hallway with her tail wrapped around her feet, very composed, pretending she had not been waiting.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Inside the wardrobe, on the folded jumpers, which is why every jumper I own is covered in white hair.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

She patted my face with one paw at exactly six in the morning. Gently at first. Less gently after.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

He was the last of a litter nobody wanted because he was the runt. We drove two hours to say we were only looking, and came home with him asleep on my lap.

How they came into your life?

You were frightened of the whole world and you let me in. Thank you for the twelve years.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Sit on the balcony with a book and let the afternoon go by, exactly as we always did.

If they were here right now, what would you do?

-----

An August evening on the balcony with the shutters open, her stretched out on the warm tiles, purring.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

Late sun on a balcony, and the smell of tomato plants.

What reminds you of them? (song, place, object...)

-----

She got into a paper bag, panicked, and ran through the entire apartment wearing it. She did not speak to me for a day.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The winter I was ill for three weeks and she slept against my back every single night, which she had never done before.

A memory you'll never forget?

Sunday afternoons on the balcony, me with a book, her on the warm tiles, for hours.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She never travelled. Her entire world was one apartment and one balcony, and she was perfectly happy with that.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

She noticed before I did. She would appear in the room and sit near me, not touching, just there, and wait.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

The pigeon on the balcony rail that she watched every day for eight years and never once tried to catch.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

Me, eventually and completely, though it took a year for her to admit it.

Who was their favourite person?

Sunday afternoons on the balcony, me with a book, her on the warm tiles, for hours.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She never travelled. Her entire world was one apartment and one balcony, and she was perfectly happy with that.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

She noticed before I did. She would appear in the room and sit near me, not touching, just there, and wait.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

The pigeon on the balcony rail that she watched every day for eight years and never once tried to catch.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

Me, eventually and completely, though it took a year for her to admit it.

Who was their favourite person?

She knew her name and 'viens', though she used both at her own discretion.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Visitors. She disappeared entirely and reappeared the moment the door closed behind them.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

Balcony in the morning, wardrobe until three, balcony again for the sun, then the sofa for the evening.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

She sat in the hallway with her tail wrapped around her feet, very composed, pretending she had not been waiting.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Inside the wardrobe, on the folded jumpers, which is why every jumper I own is covered in white hair.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

She patted my face with one paw at exactly six in the morning. Gently at first. Less gently after.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

He was the last of a litter nobody wanted because he was the runt. We drove two hours to say we were only looking, and came home with him asleep on my lap.

How they came into your life?

You were frightened of the whole world and you let me in. Thank you for the twelve years.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Sit on the balcony with a book and let the afternoon go by, exactly as we always did.

If they were here right now, what would you do?

-----

An August evening on the balcony with the shutters open, her stretched out on the warm tiles, purring.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

Late sun on a balcony, and the smell of tomato plants.

What reminds you of them? (song, place, object...)

-----

She got into a paper bag, panicked, and ran through the entire apartment wearing it. She did not speak to me for a day.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The winter I was ill for three weeks and she slept against my back every single night, which she had never done before.

A memory you'll never forget?

Tender

Watchful

Small

About Nora

She knew her name and 'viens', though she used both at her own discretion.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Visitors. She disappeared entirely and reappeared the moment the door closed behind them.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

Balcony in the morning, wardrobe until three, balcony again for the sun, then the sofa for the evening.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

She sat in the hallway with her tail wrapped around her feet, very composed, pretending she had not been waiting.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Inside the wardrobe, on the folded jumpers, which is why every jumper I own is covered in white hair.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

She patted my face with one paw at exactly six in the morning. Gently at first. Less gently after.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

He was the last of a litter nobody wanted because he was the runt. We drove two hours to say we were only looking, and came home with him asleep on my lap.

How they came into your life?

You were frightened of the whole world and you let me in. Thank you for the twelve years.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Sit on the balcony with a book and let the afternoon go by, exactly as we always did.

If they were here right now, what would you do?

-----

An August evening on the balcony with the shutters open, her stretched out on the warm tiles, purring.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

Late sun on a balcony, and the smell of tomato plants.

What reminds you of them? (song, place, object...)

-----

She got into a paper bag, panicked, and ran through the entire apartment wearing it. She did not speak to me for a day.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The winter I was ill for three weeks and she slept against my back every single night, which she had never done before.

A memory you'll never forget?

Sunday afternoons on the balcony, me with a book, her on the warm tiles, for hours.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She never travelled. Her entire world was one apartment and one balcony, and she was perfectly happy with that.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

Inside the wardrobe, on the folded jumpers, which is why every jumper I own is covered in white hair.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

The pigeon on the balcony rail that she watched every day for eight years and never once tried to catch.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

Me, eventually and completely, though it took a year for her to admit it.

Who was their favourite person?