Ceropegia's photos

I had to say goodbye yesterday. My heart is broken.

Orange Beach, Alabama

Three days before Otis' Gotcha Day, on December 27, 2007 - sixteen years ago. He came into my life in a dramatic way. A pack of dogs came out from behind a truck and ran in front of my car. Otis was the last one in the pack. I could not stop in time to avoid hitting him. He clearly had a badly broken leg. The folks who had been feeding the dogs said they were strays. They said they didn't have a vet but that they would take care of him. I thought they would shoot him (which I later learned was exactly what they would have done) so I took him to my vet who fixed his leg the next day, That is how at the age of 65, I became a first time dog owner. I could not have asked for a better dog - well behaved from day one, smart as a whip, and just an absolute joy to have. At 16 1/2 years old, he's an old man now, with serious health issues, so more than ever, I am cherishing every day I have with him.

The first part of July is when I celebrate Otis's birthday. He entered my life at the end of December 2007 when he was about 6 months old. So today the old man is around 15 years old. He doesn't hear very well anymore and has a couple of serious health issues, but he still seems to think he is a puppy and bursts with energy when he is excited or outside.

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The Liberty Carousel in Belmont Park at Mission Beach is a reproduction of an old style carouse. It has classic style wooden animals to ride and is decorated with scenes of San Diego's past and present. San Diego, California (IMG_4140)

On the Liberty Carousel in Belmont Park at Mission Beach is a reproduction of an old style carouse. It has classic style wooden animals to ride and is decorated with scenes of San Diego's past and present. San Diego, California (IMG_4139)

The Liberty Carousel in Belmont Park at Mission Beach is a reproduction of an old style carouse. It has classic style wooden animals to ride and is decorated with scenes of San Diego's past and present. San Diego, California (IMG_4138)

On the Liberty Carousel in Belmont Park at Mission Beach is a reproduction of an old style carouse. It has classic style wooden animals to ride and is decorated with scenes of San Diego's past and present. San Diego, California (IMG_4139)

A Spillman Engineering outside row jumper on the Griffith Park Carousel. Built in 1926 by the Spillman Engineering Company and brought to Griffith Park in 1937, the Merry-Go-Round boasts 68 horses, everyone a jumper. Each horse is finely carved with jewel-encrusted bridles, detailed draped blankets and decorated with sunflowers and lion's heads. A Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, reputed to be the largest band organ accompanying a carousel on the West Coast, plays over 1500 selections of marches and waltz music. (DSC02365)

A Spillman Engineering outside row jumper on the Griffith Park Carousel. Built in 1926 by the Spillman Engineering Company and brought to Griffith Park in 1937, the Merry-Go-Round boasts 68 horses, everyone a jumper. Each horse is finely carved with jewel-encrusted bridles, detailed draped blankets and decorated with sunflowers and lion's heads. A Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, reputed to be the largest band organ accompanying a carousel on the West Coast, plays over 1500 selections of marches and waltz music. (DSC02348)

A Spillman Engineering outside row jumper on the Griffith Park Carousel. Built in 1926 by the Spillman Engineering Company and brought to Griffith Park in 1937, the Merry-Go-Round boasts 68 horses, everyone a jumper. Each horse is finely carved with jewel-encrusted bridles, detailed draped blankets and decorated with sunflowers and lion's heads. A Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, reputed to be the largest band organ accompanying a carousel on the West Coast, plays over 1500 selections of marches and waltz music. (DSC02373)

A 2nd row jumper on the Griffith Park Carousel, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California (DSC02373)

A Looff outside row jumper Built in 1926 by the Spillman Engineering Company and brought to Griffith Park in 1937, the Merry-Go-Round boasts 68 horses, everyone a jumper. Each horse is finely carved with jewel-encrusted bridles, detailed draped blankets and decorated with sunflowers and lion's heads. A Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, reputed to be the largest band organ accompanying a carousel on the West Coast, plays over 1500 selections of marches and waltz music. (DSC02380)

A Spillman Engineering outside row jumper on the Griffith Park Carousel. Built in 1926 by the Spillman Engineering Company and brought to Griffith Park in 1937, the Merry-Go-Round boasts 68 horses, everyone a jumper. Each horse is finely carved with jewel-encrusted bridles, detailed draped blankets and decorated with sunflowers and lion's heads. A Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, reputed to be the largest band organ accompanying a carousel on the West Coast, plays over 1500 selections of marches and waltz music. (DSC02367)

A third row jumper on the Griffith Park Carousel, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California (DSC02373)

A Spillman Engineering outside row jumper on the Griffith Park Carousel. Built in 1926 by the Spillman Engineering Company and brought to Griffith Park in 1937, the Merry-Go-Round boasts 68 horses, everyone a jumper. Each horse is finely carved with jewel-encrusted bridles, detailed draped blankets and decorated with sunflowers and lion's heads. A Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, reputed to be the largest band organ accompanying a carousel on the West Coast, plays over 1500 selections of marches and waltz music. (DSC02350 0