Gone to Heaven.

I hope Jesus stocked up on Milk Bones today because he's going to need them.

Remember, Lord, that she loves chicken and please have a big barrel of Kentucky Fried waiting. And after that, you will need to give her a treat before bed. And one before you leave in the morning.

She will never sleep on the furniture, at least when you are home. If you come home suddenly in the middle of the day she may be curled up on the sofa. Also, anything on the floor is fair game, like a basket you were going to use to put some gifts in for a friend. Or your dirty laundry, or a sheet of printer paper.

And if you have company, Dear Lord, warn them not to leave their suitcase open on the floor. She will crawl in and sleep. When you are wrapping Christmas presents, be aware that she will first sniff all the ribbon and bows, snuffling around the room, smelling the Christmas paper before curling up on you best -- and most easily wrinkled -- gold foil.

She will be great with the angels, because she loves string music. She will enjoy the harps...and even a rinky dink piano if you have one. But keep her away from Gabriel...she absolutely hates brass instruments. It was hard for her that both kids played trumpet and trombone, but she somehow made it through the high school band years.

There's a game you could play with her, called "Daisey in the middle." Basically two people sit on opposite sides of the room and throw a rope bone back and forth. Daisey's job is to leap into the air to try to catch the bone. If she get's it, you lose. She will run to the kitchen in great triumph.

She knows "sit" and "stay" and "lie down" (tap the floor with your finger) and "up". She also, incredibly, knows "Where are the birds?" and will run to the window and put her paws on the sill.

She's a certified Girl Scout, having sat with us in the Friendship Circle in the den. She joined of her own accord, and always was a friend to others.

She was some of your best work.

Thanks for lending her to us for a while. We loved her so much.