Birdie

Birdie was our heart dog, Since we lost her at sixteen beautiful years of age, her story is long.
Sixteen years ago, my mom and I found a doggie that looked like Wishbone running along the side of the road. I scooped her up and she sat perfectly still in the back of the car. When we got home I propped her on the bed, and it’s been her favorite place ever since.
She has always been a lady, (Lady Bird was one of her many nicknames.)
Since the beginning, she was incredibly smart. Learned to go potty outside very quickly, and had a calm yet playful demeanor. As a pup, I have fond memories of her and our beagle, Henry, pulling us around the neighborhood on our bikes. They would run like the wind up and down the hills. I like to think she is running now, as fast as she can with the biggest smile on her face.
Although she never cared for the water, Birdie and I went on several trips to the beach and the river. She would run along the banks and on the sand. Birdie loved trips, and she loved to stay at nice* hotels. The Aloft in particular, was one of her favorites as they always had big dog treats for her. She would carry the bone in her mouth all the way up the elevator and into the hotel room where she would enjoy her special treat.
But Birdie truly discovered the good life after meeting her dad, my now husband Andy. Andy made her light up in a whole new way, and she was his spoiled little princess. It warmed my heart to watch her swoon over him. She would look up at him so adoringly, like he was her hero. When we first started dating, Andy would take her to Yardhouse to get chicken. I think that’s when she officially chose him to be her dad.
On a trip to Fredericksburg Texas, we stayed with Birdie at a little inn that was next to the Aldstat Brewery. The brewery looked like a magical winter palace, decorated with lights that glowed with softness in the crisp winter air. This weekend was particularly special because it was the first time that Andy told me he loved me. He started by telling me that he loved Birdie.
Birdie travelled with us to many places, the mountains, beach, rivers, and fancy hotels in the city. We used to joke that she was a bougie b.
She loved Andy’s apartment at La Cantera, where she was introduced to all things fancy. But she also fell in love with our first home. Our dream home. I have videos of her running around and wagging her tail like she couldn’t believe that this was really ours.
Some of my favorite memories are in that house, our first home. We used to sit on the bed watching movies, sometimes sharing a bowl of popcorn. She loved to watch wipeout with Andy. Even though we lived in the country, we would still take her out to eat. So I like to think she had the best of both worlds.
Then four years ago, we moved to the Houston area for Andy’s new job. It was here that she discovered her love for riding in the golf cart. That became her favorite thing ever! On some special occasions, we would take her on the golf cart to pick up pizza, and she would peer into the domino’s window enjoying the smells while anticipating the taste of the crust that she would get to eat later. She also liked sunbathing out in the backyard (without sticker burs) when the weather was nice.
Other hobbies included rocking fashionable outfits, collars, and costumes, puzzles, going to Julios for chips and tortillas, Excalibur brewery for pizza crust and pretzel, (tapped and whistlers when they were open) shopping at Petsmart for treats and nice things, pup cups at sonic or Starbucks, snuggling in bed with her parents and playing predator/prey aka chase.
Birdie preferred people, but she also made a nice little collection of pet friends. Her best friend was Ranger a hound mix with whom she could boss around…but she also loved his wild vocal side, and appreciated his singing voice. She also loved to play victim with her cousin Benny and orange cat stepbrother, Nacho. She enjoyed the playfulness of Debby, the sweet and chill nature of Aria, and the prissiness of the golden retriever cheer leader type, Lyra. And she liked little dogs because they were just so cute, like her.
Birdie also loved our sweet baby boy, Albie. Even during is “witching hour(s)” she would check in on him to make sure he was okay. I like to think that she is his guardian angel now.
Birdie, you have enriched our lives in so many ways. Mom feels so lost without you. We think about you and miss you every day. Thank you for being our sweet girl, our pookie, stinky, Lady Bird. We will always love you and cherish the precious time we got to spend with you. Thank you for loving us, and comforting us, and playing with us. You made our family complete.
Until we see you again, know you are kept safe tucked into our hearts. For now you can run free our sweet girl. We love you.