Goodbye Murffee :(

November 6, 2003-January 7, 2012

Bodhi and Buddha, you are both too young to understand loss and grief, but today was a day filled with sorrow and burdened by a heavy heart. This afternoon, Grandmoo, Mommy and Daddy buried Mr. Murffee Macbeth.

Mommy commented to Daddy that Murffee was a bond which brought us together and sustained us in a very difficult time, and she is of course right. We remember when we travelled together to southern Indiana and picked Murffee out of a litter of Australian Cattle dogs, Blue Heelers as Mommy’s family refers to them. He was a mess, filthy as good be, and more ornery than he was dirty. When we got home, Mommy gave him a complete scrubbin’ and wow was he ever a character from the start.

He had needle-nose teeth which he would use to bite your nose and your toes, and for months he literally tried to eat everything in our house or alternatively dragged everything he could get ahold of through the doggy door out into the backyard. We will never forget the day Daddy was hired to teach at Ivy Tech and came home with several books for his classes. We went out to celebrate, never even giving thought to where the books had been placed and when we came home we found the shredded evidence of the books all over the house and throughout the back yard! That was the beginning of many adventures with Mr. Murff.

We all joked that he was a devil dog when he was a puppy, because he did wreak havoc constantly, and early on he became so very attached to Mommy and Grandmoo, there was never any doubt “who’s dog” Murff was—he loved and was loved by Grandmoo and Mommy as no pet I have ever witnessed, and he was so smart it was as though he really thought just like a person! As he got older, we had to advertise “beware of dog” on our property because Murffee would bite your ass in a New York secondJ. He not only was the smartest dog Daddy has ever known, he was also the best guard dog!

When the two of you came alongJ, we wondered how Murffee and Arlo would respond, and amazingly Arlo turned into a dick and had (has) to be constantly watched around the two of you, while Murffee honestly took the two of you on as his own litter, always licking on the two of you and loving you, and occasionally yelping out a bark to put you on notice to behaveJ. And the two of you clearly loved Murffee in return, always bending over to hug on him (and you, Buddha, always bending over to give him kissesJ).

Murffee developed serious health issues this past year, though he even struggled for longer than that with congenital spine and hip issues. He was tough as good be, but recently the suffering began to really show and take a toll on his ability to get up and move.

Today he literally couldn’t get up off the floor and just barked in pain and distress, and it was evident to Mommy and Daddy and Grandmoo that it was time to say goodbye to Murffee, Mommy’s and Grandmoo’s baby boy puppy and true protector of the Grills-Holsapple clan. Daddy is not too proud or too stupid to not confess that I privately cried over the loss of our special friend and protector as, of course, did Mommy and Grandmoo. Mommy and Grandmoo together, took Murffee to be put to sleep as I stayed behind while you two napped and prepared a spot for Murffee’s final resting spot in our backyard.  The three of us together had a special ceremony for Murff, said final goodbyes, wrapped him in our very special handmade family blanket (made by Mommy's dear friend Carla Payne) and burried him together.  Murffee will be missed, always, but he will always remain a part of our family.

Tonight, GiGi and Mommy took the two of you to a studio to be photographed (and everyone commented on how beautiful you both are!) Mommy had previously arranged the photo shoot for GiGi’s birthday gift, and though Mommy didn’t feel up to it, she felt it was important to follow through.  Mommy had won the photography package at the Greentown fair this past summer.   While everyone was gone, Daddy stayed at home with Arlo and it was evident that Arlo senses the loss of a member of our family. When Mommy arrived home she was greeted by two dogs in our backyard.  Mommy says they were paying their respects to Mr. Murff, she had never seen the hounds prior to tonight.  Mommy lit a candle and set it on Mr. Murff’s grave.  We’ll relocate his statue once we have a fence in place so it doesn’t get accidentally picked up by “junkers” on the alley way.   

What the two of you will learn with time is that true recovery from tragic loss and management of grief is achieved by finding focus on your loved ones, and through celebration of life and acceptance that there is truly a spiritual, other-than-this world awaiting all creatures. You are two miraculous blessings and our love for you and one another will strengthen us through this sad occasion, and we will restore our happiness in time. We will always miss Murffee, but we will honor him as we will always honor one another with a recognition of the incomparable joy we create as a loving family. The two of you received extra hugs from all of us today, a natural and beautiful expression of our loving bond, and our farewell to one of our family. Goodbye Murffee.

Mommy and Daddy with baby Murffee Macbeth :)  Mommy cannot believe you actually fit in that little carrier Murff!

One of Mr. Murff's favorite resting spots :)

Bath time and what was supposed to be Mr. Murff's bed! ha!

Mr. Murff and his BEST FRIEND... GRANDMA!!!! 

Mr. Murff's and Mr. Arlo's 1st Halloween :) 

Sister Kelly trying to work some of Mr. Murff's excessive energy off on the bicycle and Brother Aaron with Mr. Murff and Mr. Arlo for their 1st St. Patty's Day Celebration :)

Brother Sean Franky and Bubby Ryan... two of Mr. Murff's biggest fans!

Yes, Bodhi and Buddha, Mr. Murff and Mr. Arlo slept with Mommy and Daddy in a queen size bed for YEARS!

Mr. Murff and Mr. Arlo lived to be in the water!  Mr. Arlo by make and model shouldn't have been able to swim, but he learned from the best!  Mr. Murff was sure to show him the ropes! :)

My 1st born adopted boys!  Mr. Murff was in one of his ornery moods!

Our 1st Christmas together!  xoxoxoxo

Mommy's and Daddy's wedding day... one of just a handful of pictures we have from that very special day!

The start of a hilarious tradition... Our 1st Christmas card!

Mr. Murff and Mr. Arlo on display in our living room :)  Painting created by Brandi Titus

 The last picture taken of my baby boy, January 6th

 Poor depressed Mr. Arlo... we finally got him settled in his chair!  He misses his brother just as the rest of us do :(

Mr. Murff's final resting spot, located in our backyard right behind the Bodhi and Buddha animal rescue house.  Mommy will have this area looking beautiful come spring time!

 Mr. Murff's statue :(