Greta
February 7, 1994 - July 20, 2007

On July 20, we sent out to the world's many friends of Greta, along with a few photos, the following message:

We write with the sad news that one of the sweetest, most gentle and loving creatures ever has shuffled off this mortal coil. Greta was euthanized this morning, at the age of 13 1/2 (average life expectancy for the breed is 6-8 years), after quickly advancing neurological degeneration had made it impossible for her to use her front legs; when she could no longer so much as sit up (let alone stand), it was clearly time. She seems not to have suffered any pain (beyond the confusion and distress of no longer being able to work her own body), and had been very much herself up until just a couple of days ago.

While we are, of course, sad beyond words about her passing (and, perhaps, about the end of the time in our lives together that began, just after our marriage, with the arrival of Greta as an 8-week-old puppy), we take pleasure in how many splendid years we had with her. Indeed, Greta lived an unusually long, full life -- she lived fully twice as long as one can reasonably expect Bernese Mountain Dogs to do, and experienced a lot of different things and places during those years: the Sand Dunes in Colorado (a favorite camping trip back when Dan and Deborah and Greta were a family of three); a couple of farms in Pennsylvania (she would, within hours of arriving at Deborah's family farm, invariably have rolled exuberantly in the putrid remains of a groundhog or the like); the ocean in Maine (it took her a surprisingly long time to figure out that she couldn't drink the salt water); a dreadful summer in Charlottesville, Virginia (where she was badly infested with fleas); Chicago and Montreal, Denver and (very briefly) Brooklyn (which, frankly, she didn't much care for). She lived well for long enough that Benjamin, surely, and possibly Katy, as well, will remember when they're grown-ups what a wonderful dog they had when they were young. We'll miss her dearly.

***

One of the puppies in each of these pictures is Greta (though history does not record which).

First time in the snow for which she was bred (winter 1994).

A 1994 family portrait (one of those freebies from Sears;
they hope you'll buy a whole package, but we just took this unique print).

1770 Kearney St., Denver. The Afghan kilim rug (once sold, perhaps, under duress by an Afghani family fleeing violence) was purchased in Santa Fe the weekend after our wedding.

One of the many indignities to which Greta, like all creatures, was subject during her life.

With Dan's brother Brian and his girlfriend (now, wife) Farr, 1994.

With artist, author, and very sweet guy Bret Bertholf (also known to country music fans as Halden Wofford), 1994.

In Colorado's Sand Dunes -- a favorite place to go camping, where Greta would go absolutely berserk.

Somewhere in Colorado, 1994.

With Julia Cummings and Tim Williamson on the Continental Divide.

With friends in town for Dan's 10th high school reunion (summer 1994): (l-r) Dave Woodward, Deborah and Dan, Julia Cummings and Tim Williamson, Kate Kaehny.

With Deborah's Grandma Weaver, Denver.

Jefferson County Colorado, summer 1995 (?).

Denver, autumn 1995 or 1996. (Deborah's always kind of liked to devise attractive seasonal displays...)

On Deborah's family farm with cousin Keri and her boyfriend
(now husband...) Jeff Worley, summer 1996 (?).

Two pictures from Tenant's Harbor, Maine, summer 2000. (Above, Dan's brother Chris and his girlfriend Jenn with Dan and Greta on the dock; right, with Dan's brother Brian.)

Promontory Point, some time during the summer of 2000.

Greta is demoted: Benjamin joins the family, November 2000.

She was never as interested in being read to as in eating what Benjamin dropped.

Greta visits Niagara Falls (summer 2001).

Now here's a place Greta liked to be.... Dwarfed by the chaos of a move to Montreal, summer 2003.

Christmastime, 2002. Chicago, winter 2003.

Our Christmas card photo from 2003: Benjamin loads up the sleigh in Montreal.

Montreal, spring 2004, with another member of the pack on the way.

4743 Rue Resther, Montreal (just before returning to Chicago, now as a family of five).

Now helping to raise Katy, too....

Our holiday photo, Christmas 2004.

When it originally ran on my website, this 2004 photo (courtesy of Ananya Vajpayee) was captioned: "Greta's an old lady now (age: 11), but she's alive and well."

Outside Hyde Park's Bonjour Bakery, summer 2005.

Kenwood Community Park, winter 2006.

Still with the pack, Promontory Point, summer 2006.

Christmas, 2006: Greta's last trip to Denver, where she was with us for the huge blizzard of '06.

July 20, 2007: The day it all leads to. Greta, unable to move, sadly watched by Katy.