Heavenly Missive

Winnifred Wigglepants

The Jiggliest Angel in Heaven

16X20

Oil on Canvas

A year ago this morning my little velcro pug and constant companion Winnifred Wigglepants went to the rainbow bridge after a 3-month battle with GME encephalitis. I finished her portrait last night. It felt good to get my little angel onto canvas.

I've always had a superstition about pet portraits I do for the furbabies who have passed; the ones that jump onto the canvas quickly are anxious to get home to their families. Winnie was the fastest pet portait I've completed of its size.

There are so many dear friends who carried me through those dark days when Winnie was sick. And a compassionate friend at work who held me while I sobbed in her arms the day after Winnie passed. These are the ties that bind you to friends forever. And this is the kind of love Winnie brought into my life, and the lives of everyone she touched.

This painting is based on a photo that was taken of Winnie shortly after she won the Bluebonnet Pug Club Easter Hat contest in Dallas 3 years ago. She was a champion pug before she came to us, thanks to Louise Tran, who wanted her to live out her retirement with us in a pet home. I always felt I was in the presence of an older soul when I was with Winnie. There was a very strong love and presence that shown out of her. She was tiny, but feared nothing. I miss my angel and pray we will we meet again.

Heavenly Missive

My Ode To Wiggles

Whippy creme and scrambled eggs are

Way up here in Heaven

In case you too

See only blue and wonder what you're gettin

They're other things like angel wings

With fur that's never sheddin'.

There's no disease or achin knees

and wrinkles smooth and silken

I fall asleep and dream of you

and times when we were given

to sprint and run and tug on toys

and dash to mom for lovin.

Tonight no tears oh Howie dear

because I have been taken

I’ll kiss your cheek and whiskers sweet

And heal the ache within you.

The pain it fades and goes away

And even loss feels lighter

When time moves on then pushes back

All that separates us.

From Winnie's dogster diary, January 23, 2008

Winnie died this morning very early while she was in the care of the tech at the ICU. I think she was very tired. She was my brave girl and was such a big part of our lives. Please say a prayer that she is comforted now.

She loves breakfast-time so much. I hope that she is enjoying scrambley egg and a bowl of delicious kibble this morning and making the angels laugh with her roo roo roo morning song and breakfast time spinning.Who will wash Howie's face now? Who will sit on my feet when I am on the 'puter? Who will keep dad company in the kitchen when he is cooking? Our little one with such a big heart is gone, and it all happened so quickly and unexpectedly.

We were so blessed to have her with us for just 2 short years. What an extraordinary little dog she was.I told her last night it was okay to go - she was sitting up in her oxygen cage at the ICU for 2 days, waiting for me. She always sat and waited for me. The moment she laid down was when she passed. Please hug your babies for me today and say a prayer for angel Winnie. She was cherished.