Ginger & Kay
Ginger (Can Ch Carbor Save a Dance For Me) was the spice of life! From the beginning, Ginger was special! At first, she was an energetic pup who would fly from the dog room, make three large circles around the family room and then leap onto a lap. She felt she had a mission…to stare everybody right in the eyes and lick their lips. We knew she was very special but her defining attribute was not evident right away.
Many dogs are very tuned in to their owners’ moods and feelings. Ginger was always tuned in to everyone’s feelings. So many times each week, friends called and asked if they could come over for a “schnauzer fix!” In most cases, it was a “Ginger fix!” She had a way about her, an exuberance, that made people laugh, relax and feel better.
Ginger was a healer! She knew when I had a migraine or sinus headache. If I tried to rest to relieve a headache, Ginger would settle herself to offer her body heat exactly where I hurt. When I badly injured my shoulder, Ginger maneuvered herself to serve as the body pillow that supported the arm.
In February, 2006 Ginger’s sister, Hannah, died suddenly. She belonged to someone who relied on her a lot. I offered Ginger, my healer, to Kay. Kay had lost her husband the previous year and had, herself, been undergoing chemotherapy for a few years. Ginger gave joy to Kay and comforted her for seven months. Ginger gave Kay a reason to get up in the morning. Ginger made her laugh! When Kay went into Hospice, Ginger came back to me. Every other day, Ginger and I made a trip to Hospice to visit Kay. A Hospice promotes and maintains quality care for terminally ill persons and their families.
Ginger
Whenever we visited, Kay always had her hands on Ginger. She took such comfort in her presence that it kept me going back to Hospice. Each day when we came in, people would ask if I could bring Ginger to visit their father or mother or brother. Ginger would jump onto each bed, stare into the eyes of the person and then settle herself right where each person was feeling pain. She was uncanny… almost scary. She comforted each person and the relatives thought that Ginger was a calming influence. If they were conscious, the relatives thought that Ginger helped them relax a bit; those that were not conscious seemed to stir a bit…eye movement, etc.
When we got home from each visit, Ginger was always very tired. On Tuesday the 4th of October, we went in to Hospice in the morning. I knew that I could not come back for a week. During the entire visit, Ginger whimpered softly. When it was time to leave, I kissed Kay and said good bye. Ginger’s leash was put on and then she pulled back to Kay. Ginger put her paws on Kay’s shoulders, looked into her eyes and kissed her. Kay smiled weakly. Kay died that night.
Ginger died of cancer this year. An abdominal tumor wrapped itself around her intestines.
Ginger is missed not only by me but by all the people who knew her.
