Tributes

June 2010 - November 2023

Finn

Light a Candle for Finn

About Finn

Cocker Spaniel

Chicago, IL

Blueberries

Puddles, the sea, his tennis ball

Sit, roll over, high five, and 'find it', which turned the whole house into a search operation.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

The bath, briefly and theatrically, before deciding he loved it and refusing to get out.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

The harbour walk at dawn, a mandatory puddle, breakfast, a day of cheerful supervision, then the evening ball ritual by the fire.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

Pure, undignified joy, spinning in circles with his ball in his mouth, unable to decide whether to show me the ball or lick my face.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Curled in the laundry basket on the warm clothes, ears spread out as though he were drying them.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

His tail never stopped. Not once, not ever, not even in sleep, where it thumped against the bed to a dream we were not invited to.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

He was a birthday surprise for my daughter that became, as these things do, entirely mine. He chose me on the drive home and never changed his mind.

How they came into your life?

You gave your whole heart to everyone, every day, without holding anything back. The world should love the way you did.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Take him to the harbour, throw the ball into the cold water, and watch him go.

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

-----

His last autumn at the shore, swimming out for the ball one more time and bringing it back to drop at my feet.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

The smell of the sea, and the sound of a tail thumping against a bed in the dark.

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

-----

He fell in the harbour chasing a seagull, climbed out, shook himself all over a very stern fisherman, and offered the man his ball by way of apology.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The morning my daughter left for university, Finn sat in her empty room all day, and when she called that night he pressed his nose to the screen.

A memory you'll never forget?

One blueberry thrown in the air after dinner, caught with the seriousness of an Olympic event.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

Summers at the shore in Lunenburg, where he swam after the ball into water far too cold and brought it back every time, shaking and delighted.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

He brought me his ball. It was the best thing he had and he gave it to me every time I was sad, and somehow it worked.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

A golden retriever called Ziggy who he met at the harbour every morning for eight years, two tails going like metronomes.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

My daughter, officially, though he hedged his bets and loved all of us completely.

Who was their favourite person?

One blueberry thrown in the air after dinner, caught with the seriousness of an Olympic event.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

Summers at the shore in Lunenburg, where he swam after the ball into water far too cold and brought it back every time, shaking and delighted.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

He brought me his ball. It was the best thing he had and he gave it to me every time I was sad, and somehow it worked.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

A golden retriever called Ziggy who he met at the harbour every morning for eight years, two tails going like metronomes.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

My daughter, officially, though he hedged his bets and loved all of us completely.

Who was their favourite person?

Sit, roll over, high five, and 'find it', which turned the whole house into a search operation.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

The bath, briefly and theatrically, before deciding he loved it and refusing to get out.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

The harbour walk at dawn, a mandatory puddle, breakfast, a day of cheerful supervision, then the evening ball ritual by the fire.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

Pure, undignified joy, spinning in circles with his ball in his mouth, unable to decide whether to show me the ball or lick my face.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Curled in the laundry basket on the warm clothes, ears spread out as though he were drying them.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

His tail never stopped. Not once, not ever, not even in sleep, where it thumped against the bed to a dream we were not invited to.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

He was a birthday surprise for my daughter that became, as these things do, entirely mine. He chose me on the drive home and never changed his mind.

How they came into your life?

You gave your whole heart to everyone, every day, without holding anything back. The world should love the way you did.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Take him to the harbour, throw the ball into the cold water, and watch him go.

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

-----

His last autumn at the shore, swimming out for the ball one more time and bringing it back to drop at my feet.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

The smell of the sea, and the sound of a tail thumping against a bed in the dark.

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

-----

He fell in the harbour chasing a seagull, climbed out, shook himself all over a very stern fisherman, and offered the man his ball by way of apology.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The morning my daughter left for university, Finn sat in her empty room all day, and when she called that night he pressed his nose to the screen.

A memory you'll never forget?

Hopeful

Devoted

Joyful

About Finn

Sit, roll over, high five, and 'find it', which turned the whole house into a search operation.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

The bath, briefly and theatrically, before deciding he loved it and refusing to get out.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

The harbour walk at dawn, a mandatory puddle, breakfast, a day of cheerful supervision, then the evening ball ritual by the fire.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

Pure, undignified joy, spinning in circles with his ball in his mouth, unable to decide whether to show me the ball or lick my face.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Curled in the laundry basket on the warm clothes, ears spread out as though he were drying them.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

His tail never stopped. Not once, not ever, not even in sleep, where it thumped against the bed to a dream we were not invited to.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

He was a birthday surprise for my daughter that became, as these things do, entirely mine. He chose me on the drive home and never changed his mind.

How they came into your life?

You gave your whole heart to everyone, every day, without holding anything back. The world should love the way you did.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Take him to the harbour, throw the ball into the cold water, and watch him go.

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

-----

His last autumn at the shore, swimming out for the ball one more time and bringing it back to drop at my feet.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

The smell of the sea, and the sound of a tail thumping against a bed in the dark.

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

-----

He fell in the harbour chasing a seagull, climbed out, shook himself all over a very stern fisherman, and offered the man his ball by way of apology.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The morning my daughter left for university, Finn sat in her empty room all day, and when she called that night he pressed his nose to the screen.

A memory you'll never forget?

One blueberry thrown in the air after dinner, caught with the seriousness of an Olympic event.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

Summers at the shore in Lunenburg, where he swam after the ball into water far too cold and brought it back every time, shaking and delighted.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

Curled in the laundry basket on the warm clothes, ears spread out as though he were drying them.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

A golden retriever called Ziggy who he met at the harbour every morning for eight years, two tails going like metronomes.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

My daughter, officially, though he hedged his bets and loved all of us completely.

Who was their favourite person?