She wasn't complaining, it was a good life, she had attention and companionship but when she saw us, she must have been able to read that indelible "SUCKER" tattooed on our foreheads. A couple of months later and a quick trip on United, and Miss Tasha arrived at her new home and met her new pack.

Our little red firecracker, Miss Grumbly. We took some time getting to know each other, a little disconcerted by her deep rumbly grumbly way of talking. In that time, she wound herself around our hearts. Queen of Mom's bed, she ruled the Girl's Room, graciously allowing the others to sleep on the floor surrounding her throne. Enjoying the Southern California sunshine after years of Midwest winters, she lounged around surveying her domain during the day, finding the best spot in the shade and watching everyone else settle for second best.

This morning, Miss Tasha will make another journey, a shorter one, one we've been trying to deny was coming ever since we got that call from her vet over a month ago. We gave her a California winter, our baby from the snowy Midwest...we visited the beach and planned a California summer with her. But her bad days are outnumbering her good ones, the sparkle in her eyes is slowly being replaced with the "please Mom, make it better" questioning look and, with aching hearts and eyes swollen with tears, we spend the last few hours with our Tasha, preparing ourselves for the pain of letting her feel better, knowing that we'll be hurting and hoping that she knows how much we love her and that the Tasha sized hole in our hearts is equal to the Tasha sized love that we have for her.