Monday, January 18, 2010

Nicknames

Ziggy Marley

That was his full name. But it was a very rare name you ever heard one of us using while talking to him. It was more of a name you would hear when a mother or father was upset with their child and calls their child by their first and middle name to give them a warning they were unhappy.

Although it has only been a day I have been constantly searching my mind for memories of Ziggy. In none of them did I ever call him by his full name. He never needed to be yelled at or given a second warning. He always knew the right thing to do, and although he may have put up a big of a playful struggle he would always come around just to please anyone who would give him love and attention.

One thing I have found while searching is that Ziggy had a ton of nicknames:

Zig
Zigster
Zigger
Zig Zag
Boo
Boobie
Doo
Duface
Old Man
Boy

And the list just goes on and on.... and although he may have been called so many different things, he always answered you. Simply because he knew you were talking to him. Simply because all he wanted was to please you. Simply because he wanted to show you that he loved you and was listening.

I miss you so much Boog, and I know you still listen when I call your name.



I think the thing I'm missing most is the sound of your nose hitting my door in the morning, telling me it's time to get up and play.

31 comments:

Pedro said...

Jess,

My eyes just won't stop! I don't think I'll ever get over this!

Rachel

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Don't furget all the things he's telling our pals khross The Bridge about woo and YOUR nikhknames!

I bet he's sharing all the things he misses about woo too -

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Mom says writing is a pawesome way to help channel the emotions AND keep all the memories alive - we are so happy you will keep Ziggy's Blog fur it will help US too!

Anonymous said...

Hey,
Ziggy hasn't left you; not really. He's left his love scar on your heart and it will never go away. Our mom and dad have felt the pain that the scar makes in your heart and they say that the pain will go awayeven though the scar stays forever. You will always have Ziggy in your heart. He's running around with Old Bear Dog, Rusty, Penny, Parker, Kodi, Cahance and Gordon. Gordon left us much like Ziggy left y'all; unexpectedly from cancer. We will howl to DOG tonight to watch over Ziggy as Ziggy watches over you.
- TBH&K

Two French Bulldogs said...

So sorry to hear about your baby
Benny & Lily

Sonny said...

Jess,
I don't know how I could ever get over this. I miss waking up in the middle of the night and having ziggy sleeping outside of our doors. And even though I knew he was ALWAYS there, I always happened to trip over him each time. That dog was one of the biggest loves of our family. I'm still in shock. I woke up this morning and called Pedro Ziggy by accident and started to cry. It happened way too fast and I wish we just had more time with him. This sucks....I can't stop crying.

Leah

Lacy said...

still very sad...i know where u are, and how u feel..its sooo hard when they leave us..no matter whether its a long term illness or its somthing that happens quick (like with lacy) u are never prepared to give up ur love..thinking of u..

~rocky and mama~

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

We are so sorry to hear the sad news.. Our thoughts are with you.. RIP Ziggy..

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Such wonderful memories you have of your sweet boy! We love hearing all his nicknames. It is obvious he was so very loved. And all the blogs that have remembered him today - just wonderful. We hope your beautiful memories can help make this a little easier.

Hugs, the OP Pack

Golden Samantha said...

Oh how sorry we are about Ziggy's passing. Rest in Peace, sweet pup.
Hugs xo
Samantha

Bijou said...

We are very sorry to hear of Ziggy's passing. It is never easy to lose a pet but it's even more difficult when they go so quickly. We hope your memories of Ziggy Marley will help your broken hearts heal.

Bijou, Banjo and Mom

Jen said...

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Your doggie sounds so wonderful and the memories you have will always keep him with you. I hope this is okay, here is a poem I hope will comfort you in your time of loss.

I Remember
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying. You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say "Good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

Author unknown

♥I am Holly♥ said...

We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Ziggy. He is now at the Rainbow Bridge and will always be with you. Debbie and Hollydog

Sonic said...

I heard about Ziggy from Khyra. Anyway, we just wanted to say how sorry we are to hear about Ziggy.

He was a very handsome dog!

Sonic

White Dog Blog said...

I did not know Ziggy but can tell he was a magical friend and loving family member. We pray you find comfort in knowing that He lives on forever in the hearts and memories of every soul he touched. Know he is running strong of heart, carefree, and happy on the other side of the Bridge. He will be there, loving and patiently waiting to greet you when you join him.

Jen said...

I'm glad you liked the poem. It was meant for comfort. I'm also glad to hear that your tears are turning to joyful ones.. I lost a pet too years ago and I know how you feel. It's very hard but now when I think of Moe, I think of what he gave to me and my family and I smile.

My doggie's name is Ziggy too! Your nicknames are some of the same I give to my Ziggy too!~

Yas said...

Hello! Me just came from Khyra's blog and wanted to paw a hi and our condolences to you and family. Eventhough we never got to know Ziggy, we feel like we've lost a friend too..

I'm sure he's looking down and he's hoping in his next life he'll get to meet his family again.

Cheers,
Maxx

Lorenza said...

Thanks for sharing all those great memories of Ziggy.
He had lots of nicknames and sure he knew all of them were given to him with love.
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

Jessie, Leah and Rachel,
We are so so sorry. Mom has tears in her eyes.
Purrs and Hugs to all of you,
JB, Chester, CB, Armani, Gaia, Charli and Deb

Jack & Moo said...

Sad woos from our pack to yours, we're so sad to hear about Ziggy. All his nicknames are so wonderful, so loving. And I'm sure he hears them at the Bridge every time you say them.

sad woos,
jack a-roo & pat

animal lover, quilt lover said...

Khyra's mom sent me over to tell you we know how you fell. In the poem it said they are with us, I think it is so!!!! I hope so anyway!! I am sorry for your loss!!!
I will follow your blog. Fern

Alli and Frankie said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. Being a pet parent can be heartbreaking. Did I read correctly that you have another dog? I hope he is coping okay. It's hard when you can't explain it to their little doggie friends. *hugs* to you.

Moco said...

We will miss him no matter what name he is being called.

Snowie Baby said...

hi! i came from op packs's log. just wanted to say, our hearts go out to you.
im sorry for yr loss.

i hope he has found his happyland there.

lots of love and care,
snowie

♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥ said...

Mommy and are were so sorry to hear of Ziggy's passing. Sorry we never got to know him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.


Mona & Mommy, Sarah

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

Ziggy sounds like a wonderful guy. We are sorry we didn't get a chance to know him. Our thoughts and purrs are with you. ~Artemisia, Socks, Scylla & Fenris

Baby Rocket Dog and Hootie said...

So sotty for the loss of your sweet Ziggy.
X-BRD & Hootie

Scout and Freyja said...

For Ziggy's people:

I lost a 3 year old German Shepherd Dog, Starr, to acute pancreatitis in less than 15 hours from the time she told me she was sick until her big beautiful heart gave out. I was so despondent I wouldn't leave her body and kept telling her to breathe and to come back to me.

The doctor's office called my son at work, who came. Called my friend at work, she came. Called my best friend, she came. I just didn't want to leave her body. The sounds that came out of me were literally inhuman - guttural - moans from the soul and broken heart. After hours I finally left my girl, my beautiful, young Starr.

I named her Starr because she had been abandoned on a country road at 14 weeks of age. I told her that she would be my Starr forever because I loved her and she was so special to me. She gave to me in three years more memories and love than most dogs do in a lifetime.

I'm literally sobbing buckets as I write this to you. It has been five years since my precious Starr left me for the heavens. I can't mention Starr's name without crying to this day. My heart breaks to this day. I feel as though I let her down in some way - all of my dogs die of old age - not Starr. I feel that I failed her.

Please know that I know your immense pain. Please know that, in some ways, it does get better. I have another beautiful GSD now, Freyja. She is precious and loving and special - but Starr - she was unquestionably wound into the threads of my soul and will remain there forever.

More to come...

Scout and Freyja said...

For Ziggy's people #2:

Before Starr came into my life I shared my home and heart with Tony, another German Shepherd Dog. Thankfully Tony lived to be 12; however, less than 24 hours before I cradled him in my lap and allowed him to leave this earth, I head him cry. I was upstairs in the bath tub and could hear him whining. I called down to him that I would be there soon - thinking that his tennis ball had rolled under the sofa - again☺

When I got to the bottom of the stairs I could see that he was in pain. The first pain he had shown me all day or at any time. I immediately called my vet and asked him to meet us at his office. I called my son at work and asked him to meet Tony and I at the vet's. Little did I know that would be the last time Jeff and I would see our big boy alert and lucid.

By the next morning I received a call at work that Tony had a mass on his spleen that was bleeding internally - a cancerous growth. I left work, called my son who left work, and we went to be with our boy. I didn't want him to die on a steel table so he was carried outside. It was February - I sat down in the snow - skirt, nylons and all - and cradled this marvelous dog of mine and allowed him to leave me. My son picked Tony up out of my arms and held that huge dog like a little baby rocking back and forth with his face buried next to Tony's sobbing - saying good-bye to the dog that helped to raise him along with his mother.

I was so horribly impacted by Tony's death that at one time I wished for death because I thought I would be able to see him again and be with him again. My depression was immense. But, I knew that I had taken him full circle from a pup to the day when, as an old dog, his fate was to leave me alone without him by my side.

For months I thought I heard the jingle of his collar tags and would look around for him. Sometimes I would even see a faint shadow move around a corner. It wasn't until I had healed enough to release him from the grasp of my mourning that the shadows and sounds ceased.

Why am I telling you so much and in so much depth? Because I KNOW YOUR PAIN. I will feel your pain again and again and again because right now I have two of the most affectionate and wonderful dogs who share my home and know that I can't keep them here with me forever.

I also have four cats that mean the world to me and I know that I can't keep them forever.

BUT, I WILL NEVER be without animals in my life because I know that life would have no meaning to me without them.

I am wrapping my heart around your sorrow. I wish I could ease your pain...

Scout and Freyja said...

Just a note to let you know that I have placed a memorial for Ziggy on our blog.

Sam said...

Oh goodness, my heart breaks over and over again for you guys. We'll miss you, Ziggy.

Rambo said...

We love all those names you had for Ziggy. We called him the Zigster.
The Zigster was one lucky dog to have humans who loved him so much. I wish all dogs could be so lucky.

We miss Ziggy very much!
love,
Rambo & Midget