When my mother found out she had melanoma about seven years ago, it didn’t quite sink in until one evening when she called and said, “There’s nothing anyone can do for me.” I cried hard then, then got on with it. And I never looked back to the horrible shock of it all.
Just weeks before her death six years ago, my siblings and I took shifts during her in-home hospice care. The day before she died we were all together. We talked. Said things that needed to be said. Then got on with it.
Stuart can’t say anything. He can’t come to grips with what’s happening inside his precious body. He simply doesn’t know. Or maybe he does.
But we’ll never know if he does or not. I can look into his beautiful eyes and tell him how much he means to me. To us. To everyone. But does he understand? Does he understand that I really don’t like shoving a pill down his throat? Does he know that we really don’t know if the pill will help with the bleeding from the cancer that’s found it’s way into his blood vessels?
Yesterday morning, when this picture was taken, we sat for hours. Thanks to wireless internet and a laptop, I was able to do some work. Why, I don’t know because nothing is as important or urgent or critical in my life than he. Absolutely nothing.
He just sat in the leaves and watched the painters across the street come and go from their vans and cars. He watched as dogs and people walked by. He’d look at me from time to time. I’d speak to him.
We were together. For hours. Mostly in silence. Just as we are right now. And I’m listening to the faint rustle of his breathing as he sleeps under my desk.
We had a good night. On the “big bed” in the middle of the night, he took his rightful place nestled on our pillows. With the tiny hairs of his ear brushing against my cheek, or in his dad peep’s ear. That’s usually annoying. But last night, as Friday the 13th ushered its way in, it was the most beautiful feeling in the world.
And today, with the Friday the 13th full on, we’re having a glorious day.
I’ve always liked Friday the 13th.
The Scottie Chronicles - Winston's World 
as long as he is happy at the moment that is all that really mattersso cherish the good days you have with him, Hugs and love,xx Rachel and Speedy
So grateful you are all still together. None of us really “knows” how long we have on this earth. We should all live just in this moment Always. Something sinister usually reminds us of this, unfortunately. We love you, Stuart and pray you and yer peeps have more blessed days and nights ahead🙏. Love and prayers to you all💚
Very Beautiful sentiments – thinking of you, Stuart
I am inclined to believe Stuart knows and he is just soaking it all in. I pray this time last and you have some more time together.
Love Ya Stuart
Sweet William The Scot
You are both so lucky on this Friday the 13th to have each other!
I’m sure Stuart knows how much you love him… he is a terrier and terriers understand every word. For me this Friday the 13th is a good day too. To know you are together with your family and to know you had a good night, Stuart, makes this friday to a special and nice day for me too.
Treasure those moments with him. We did and now all we have are glorious memories. Stuart probably has no idea of those pulling for him including us thousands of miles away and those on the other side of the planet.
just beautiful, I don’t know if I would be able to be as eloquent, I so admire your strength. Please give Stuart kisses from us and keep some for yourself xoxo DakotasDen
❤️ Stuart
Oh how dear and sweet the moments are when we know there aren’t as many left as we would like there to be…….just reminds us really how many of those moments there HAVE been that we just thought were “regular days”……because every day we spend with someone we love is SPECIAL. I’m sorry your Mom lost her battle with melanoma – I have been one of the lucky ones as I have had recurrent melanoma and am still here to tell the tale and hug Sammy and my husband and continue to cherish every moment I have. I hope you have more time with Stuart than you think you might – he’s a very special boy. We send hugs………
Pam and Sammy
We are sure that Stuart knows just how much you love him. And we know how much you are cherishing each moment with him.
hugs
Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel
Beautiful post. This is all anyone can do. Just love them. When you look into those deep brown eyes you know that he knows he’s loved. And you can also see the deep love he has for you. I truly believe this and this love we keep inside us for all eternity – it never leaves. God bless you and the wonderful wonderful Stuart. Our feisty little man has plenty more to say.
Beautiful post. He knows you love him. When they are sick, they like to sit near you, feeling your presence and knowing that they are loved. I think they understand. I’ve lost 3 Scotties in my life time to cancer. Treasure your moments with Stuart. I so love him!
I think Stuart knows you love him. Thanks for reminding us that every day we have with our dogs is to be treasured. He’s comfortable, the sun’s out, he’s with his peeps who are the center of his world…it is truly a good day.
Just enjoy those beautiful moments with him. You’re right nothing else matters more at the moment.
You are the most wonderful peeptress! Treasure each day, go one day at a time…. Stuart will let you know when it is time. And know that when he crosses that rainbow bridge, he will still love you, need you, will wait for you, and hopefully, like my Toggie, will let you know that he is OK!
Ozzy & Callie’s Mom [Julie]
So beautifully expressed. We don’t have add to the many wonderful sentiments that have been expressed. Just want you to know that you all are deeply imbedded in our hearts. And yes, Stuart will let you know when he needs the Bridge. There will be many beloveds waiting to welcome him including my PawPaw who loves all dogs, , and willhelp him settle in. Thank you for posting today. Much love, your friend Skyler and his Mama
We have you and your parents in our hearts Stuart. We have had a scotty girl taken from us because of cancer. Then in 2010 cancer took our 19 yr old daughter , after a 4 year fight. Our Mac was by her side 24 – 7. We know about the precious moments you are having now. And that you cherish them. I want to say that Stuart is not afraid to ‘pass over’. He and all the animals know that earth is just a phase their little souls go through. And how wonderful he spent his ‘earth’ time with you. His journey has brought joy to so many because of you Nan. You are marvelous scotty parents. Thank you for sharing your Stuarts adventures with us all. You have become part of our lives !
(HUGS) Sue Ellen …Lucy & Mac
( tears )
That just sounds like a wonderful day and how precious are those quite moments. Hold tight to those and with prays, luck, & scottie spirit, you will have many more. Linda, Petie, & Bailey
“A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.”
― John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog
Stu, please know that you and your peeps are in our thoughts and prayers. Our hearts are breaking and so cannot even begin to imagine what you and the peeps must be feeling.
Sending you all our love,
Wallace, Samuel & mom
xxx
You are in our hearts Stuart. We are never ready for this event because you are so pure and innocent and beautiful. Please know we travel this new journey with you and know your way is paved with love and prayers.
Stuart you are so loved and you love. Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family. May you have the best Friday 13. and many more.
Bentley and Mom
Stuart my new friend…I feel positive vibes all around this post and comments. We each have the day we are in and we must make the most of it. You and your peeps are having lots of quality time and at the end of the day it is quality that counts not quantity…..
Hugs madi and mom
Sigh…..so very lovely to cherish each and every moment.
xoxoxoxo AROOOOO for Friday the 13th!
Toby, Banks and their humans………..
Give hugs and DO look into his eyes as we did with our Benny
Lily & Edward
Makes me wanna snuggle my pup that much more…<3
Stuart knows how much you love him and he loves the two of you just as much. Enjoy every day to the fullest. That is all you can do. Anyone who has loved a Scottie who has passed over the rainbow bridge knows how you are feeling. A Scottie is a very special dog. After we had to put our Raelinn down I found this blog and have been enjoying it. It helped with my broken heart. After two years we have a new little Scottie, Skye and our lives are filled with the pitter patter of little feet running around and lots of love. I will never forget Raelinn or my other two, Bonnie Bray and Chelsea and I know when I die they will be waiting for me. I believe this with all my heart. Sending you love and prayers. I know this isn’t easy for you to keep writing this blog, but I do hope you will be able to keep writing. All of us who read your blog every day have come to love you two peeps as well as that very special person, Stuart.
This is the first time back after an absence of a couple of months for me. I can’t say how much I feel for you and Stuart. All paws and fingers crossed here for the best possible outcome.
Piper MacT’s Peep.
My Momma’s always been parshul to da Friday da 13ths… 13 is her lucky number cuz she wuz born on da 13th.
She sez us pups know a whole lot more than people gives us credit fur… I think she thinks dat cuz of da way I always acts when any of da uther critters is feelin’ poorly… I takes care of ’em… sumtimes evfun before the people realize sumthin is wrong, I knows.
And Stuart knows how much he is luved… us terrierists is smart like dat. Just bein’ wiff our people is da bestest thang in da world as fur as we’s concerned.
Well, dat and chasin’ varmints…
We love you, Stu, and we are so happy you are with your loving family!
The most wonderful thing of all, for Stu and his Peeps, is to hold Stu close, to reassure him, though he KNOWS he is cherished, it feels just as good to him to smell you to hear your voices, to feel you close, your touch, and to be in the moment of basking in that perfect love that you give each other!!! We have been there and we are so happy that you are with each other, taking in every precious second of time together.
We continue to pray and ask that your precious time together be long.
We are still very much in shock! We still can’t believe it! We just don’t know what to do. But we are hoping and praying for the best.
That you for everything especially your sharing your marvelous Scottie, Stu, with us!
We are here with you always!
God bless you!
Riley-Puppy, Tessie-girl, and their Mum
We have been absent of late due to some Elsa struggles here and have been astonished at the news as I’m sure you are. This moving today tribute to your precious fellow made Mom’s eyes leak and me, Andy n Elsa eternally grateful for the opportunity to share in Stuart’s life. He makes us laugh more than ever. He makes us think when necessary about the troubles of the world. But most important he makes us ever so proud to know him. Revel in his presence and love him up as you do. We love him from afar and your entire family is in our thoughts and prayers going forward. We are sending all the pawsitive karma your way.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Our Scottie Angels, especially Katie, are watching over you. Roxanne, Truman, Callie & Mandy
Treasure every single day that you have together. Each and every one is so very special♥
so glad to hear this. We terriers are tough and you are so ❤️ and blessed to have the peers ❤️❤️❤️ You so much. Each day, minute, moment has always been precious and even more now… I 🙏 That you will continue fighting and that this pill works well. Deep inside, I am still rallying for a miracle— maybe it’s a very bad infection that a bout of antibiotics can cure. Whatever it is, I hope you stay comfortable. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
OH MY GOD! Stuart! We’ve been sooooo wrapped up in our own misery and then later joy that we’ve not kept in touch with anyone. My heart breaks for you and I have tears coursing down my face. This cannot be happening. Not to you. You are and always will be our inspiration. If I had not have found this, your blog, we never would have “met”. Sending you universe-sized prayers and hugs – love you mate, always and forever xxxx
Chester sends big sloppy kisses to Stuart and I’ve got some hugs for his Mom. Just hanging out together is the best thing for both of you now.
Not sure why I showed up an anonymous but I’m Mavis from http://mavimet.com/
I love Friday the 13th too. Even more now that I read that. I am writing this with my own precious critters watching and hoping for walkies. 13 is a lucky number for women because they have 13 cycles per year. ❤ ❤ ❤
OMD !!!!!!! I just read about you being so ill.
OMD !!!!!! Hang in dar buddy….. I’m sending out a ton of healing POTPs for you.
Hugs,
Ranger
We are happy to hear that Stuart had a good night in the big bed. We are pulling for him and hope that e has many more days and nights of love from this family and friends.We are thinking of you.
Your post today was very touching. I applaud your courage for expressing such eloquence during this difficult time. Perhaps writing is therapeutic for you. If so, you might consider starting a journal of Stuart’s journey.
While most people have different ideas about fate, I believe there is a master plan in place, a reason for everything; the good, the bad, the ugly. And I know as sure as the sun will come out tomorrow, that Stuart was meant to be your scottie to raise, love and protect. That little fluffy ball of black fur with the white markings and a slightly askew tail won you over completely from his litter mates. He needed someone like you to give him what was being denied him. You have provided the very best home and life for him and he thanks you for that. He loves his peeps deeply and he knows, without a doubt, your enduring love for him! Believe this. I know this to be true.
We continue to have hope while we keep you in our hearts and prayers.
Love & hugs,
McDuff & Mom
Edgar’s mum here. I have no words…in the wake of the attacks in Paris I thought I would pop into Blogville for some cheering up. I had no idea about dear Stuart and I’m just so shocked and heart broken for you. Stuart’s is the first blog I ever read, back when Edgar was just a little bitty baby. I feel almost as if I know him, as if we are old friends. Please know that you are held in our hearts and prayers.
Oh Stuart… I am sending love and heart felt prayers to you and yours..
We Love you!! Sherry, Lil Mac and Angel,
Oh
Sorry i slipped on the keyboard…i was trying to say Oh how i feel for you all..Stu as a dog is a smart boy..like all animals they know when they have something going on..and as opposed to us they get on with being in the moment..they do not have the silly human problems of regrets and projecting into what ifs and the future..they exist in the now..a wonderful way to live your life..Stu knows he is loved.he will know you are hurting and he will keep being Stu..because he knows nothing else..this is a true gift..love him..cuddle him..laugh at and with him…he expects it..much love and hugs and POTP still coming your way my sweet friends…Loves Fozziemum xxx
Whenever a pet of mine has been seriously ill I always felt that I was learning a lesson in how to suffer patiently, rebound with alacrity even if for short times, and generally bear misfortune in the right way. We have a lot to learn from our pets in how to live and love and how to die graciously, with dignity. Stuart has been lucky with you and you with him and so it will be forever. Keep posting to let us know how he rallies and how he does. Much love to you three. Vera
I am so sorry to hear your news. Stuart is such a special dog, and has brought so much joy to everyone that knows about him. Enjoy every minute with him. You are in our prayers
Noodledog Nessa