Ginger
Ginger came into my life 6 years ago and had my back since the first minute we were together. Getting behind my shoulder in the front yard and barking at my own friends coming to welcome her!
Manitoba Mutts was struggling to find someone who would take a senior citizen with a thyroid problem. Only having fostered you for a month I already knew I was going to be with a girl sooo great as Ging! Your problem was my problem and my problem... Well you ended up hearing about it! I was looking for a companion to help me with my anxiety and depression. Little did I know we were helping each other. If she wasn't sure of something, I'd help her through it, if I wasn't sure of something, she'd walk with me and then lick my face if it didn't go well. She would become the best sound board, listening to my rants and testing food while cooking and she would give you big eyes and scuffed up eyebrows when she wasn't sure about it. She would even hang her head in shame when she'd eat a whole sleeve of bagels and get puppy eyes asking for more food at supper time.
Ging loved all adventures and even tolerated activities that she didn't like, only if mom was around. She became quite the range rover coming out for hikes in the Whiteshell, backcountry hiking/camping in Riding Mountain and camping/kayaking in Nopiming. We always had each other especially during our Hecla camping tornado warnings where we both stayed up throughout the night listening to thunder and lightning but we had each other well tucked into the sleeping bag trying to stay dry.
She even got into gardening and would eat all my salad and spinach in the garden and unearthing the carrots for snacks, and anything else she could sneak when moms not looking! We also often shuffled in late to baseball, I'll never admit on who made who late but it took her a long time to pick out the right outfit some evenings, I swear!
Last February is when you first felt sick with liver cancer and I realized that I didn't have much more time with my little senior citizen. I cherished all the moments this last year, and you were such a strong lady through it all, I'm so proud of you!
I learnt sooo much from you, mainly patience, for you and myself and learning not to just say I love you, but you having me show you how much I love you, for you to fully understand the sentiment. We were still working on communicating I'll be right back! You were always there for me just hanging out in the garage while I tinker on my car, new found diy project or bask in the sun while I work on a new painting. You helped me grow and helped me believe I could do sooo much more, by just being there as support, but now I wished I could have given you more because you always helped me through it all, just you and me. There will always be a spot for you in my heart and I might just leave the garbage on the fridge to continue messing with everyone looking for it, under the sink - like where you always found it at the beginning.
It was just you and me for the last 6 years but you fit 13 years of love in that 6 years we were together. Even though they warned yesterday would hurt, I didn't realize that it would hurt this much. I'm sorry your body wasn't able to take you to find allll the yummy sniffing spots anymore.
You always connected with everyone you'd meet, I know you'll be missed with all the hearts you touched and belly rubs you received. It was always just you and me, now that you're gone from my side, but I'll always miss you Gingie my babe, ol' Memère, partner in crime and best friend.
-with lots of love, Josee Remillard
