Bandit
January 2, 1992 - March 27, 2006
We recently lost a very good friend, a devoted companion, a true member of the family. Bandit, after a sudden and devastating illness, died March 27, 2006. We all miss him.
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Bandit joined the family in July 1992, a few weeks after my father died. My sister, niece, and I adopted him because we were worried about our mother being home alone. The day we got Bandit, we actually went to the kennel to adopt a dog we had previously seen. He was gone and Bandit barked and barked and barked, making sure he got our attention. After 5 minutes with him, we were in love and signed the papers to take him home. By the time we finished the adoption process, it was too late to take him home before picking up our mother from work. The entire drive to her office, Bandit was on the floor of the car, shaking in fear. While we waited for Mommie to exit, he stayed quiet. The moment she walked out of the building, he stuck his head out of the window and barked. And barked and barked and barked. Mommie froze. From a distance we could see she was not pleased. She walked slowly to the car and like Bandit had been on the ride to the office, was silent for the ride home.
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Bandit got off to a rocky start. Mommie complained that he smelled, called him dog until I named him, and had him in the dog house, literally and figuratively, because he chewed on her shoes, the door, and anything else he could find. My sister and I were on stand-by for months to rescue Bandit because Mommie repeatedly threatened to get rid of him. Slowly and steadily, however, he worked his way into her heart. He earned his keep when his barking alerted her to a tea kettle that was starting to smoke and burn. That instance Bandit saved both his and Mommie's life.
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Since then, Bandit has been Mommie's constant companion. He's traveled the world visiting me in Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Kuwait. He's seen both coasts of the U.S. and many of the states in between. He's recognized at the bank, the post office, the gym, and countless other places. He's made many people smile. And the memory of his antics -- constant barking, digging, and "speaking"-- will continue to make us smile in appreciation of his short time with us.
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We miss and love you, Bandit boy.
Kamir and Cashmere send licks.
