A Special Friend Passed Today!
>
> I awoke this morning with my Hinky,Fanny and Chester barking. A few
> minutes later I heard the Train Whistle,
> right on time, like it does every morning. But, something was different
> this morning, I had a really bad feeling.
>
> A few minutes later the phone rang, and a close friend saying her Best
> Friend, was ready to leave her now. I could hear in the back ground he was
> in pain.
>
> But, what do I say to my close friend after all these years, 11 yrs. of
> loving, caring, and sharing every day of her life with her "Ben"?
>
> All those years of Memories past through my mind, how much fun, happiness
> and Love this boy had always given her, along with so many others. In fact
> anyone who had ever met him.
>
> How he had done Cart Rides for years at the Rescue Booths to raise money
> for Rescue there in Maryland. How he and his son and daughter had pulled
> carts through the dinning Hall just two years ago at the National
> Specialty show. And how long a walk we all had before we had finally found
> the building this was suppose to take place at, it was too long a walk for
> an Old Timer like myself, and here "Ben" knew he was doing something
> special because of his special wagon being filled with pretty Flowers, he
> acted as if he knew he was doing something important that night. Even
> though all us humans were completely wore out from such a long walk, here
> "Ben" at over 9 1/2 yrs. was still marching right along, pulling his wagon
> of Flowers. Of course "Ben" always loved to show off, and for the purpose
> of getting all that attention from a crowd.
>
> I'm sure my close friend Janet Thacher will never forget all the wonderful
> memories this Great St. Bernard, and Great Friend gave her, all those
> years. I know for sure I'll never forget her and my "Ben". Yes, he was
> mine too, and not just because I had brought him into this World either,
> he was so many other people's too, because he Loved Everyone he had ever
> met. One meeting with "Ben" and he let you know how happy he was to
> meet you, how much he Loved life, and all the attention there was out
> there, for him to get each day of his life, from whomever was willing to
> meet him.
>
> A real character he was as a young pup,with all the tricks he could pull.
> but also his sharp brain, and Big Heart always made him the very special
> character he was.
>
> If every Human could live their life as happy, go lucky as "Ben" did all
> his life, this World would for sure be a better place to live in today.
>
> Now, "Ben" never liked the Dog Show thing because he never could
> understand why you would want to stand stacked when there are so many
> people standing around to go up and meet. He just wanted to bounce around
> and go up and say Hello to everyone, so Dog Shows just weren't for him.
> But, he loved to do carting, and chasing squirrels, running them up a tree
> etc. And even once when he visited me he spent so much time, watching the
> fish in an aquarium, as if he was trying to figure out, how to get to know
> them, and why they kept swimming back and forth. He'd watch them for a
> long time like a kid watching his favorite cartoon on TV.
>
> "Ben" was a true Working Dog because he Loved to haul wood in his wagons
> and doing any kind of other work for the Thacher's.
>
> "Ben" has sired some wonderful pups, and now has some wonderful grandkids.
> There will never ever be another "Ben" but he has left a glimpse of
> himself in each one of them. And God they are so special!
>
> Janet, Bill and Craig, do not be sad now, or ever about Ben" having to
> leave you all. He was a very special Angel, one of those we are only
> allowed to borrow for a while, and you all were so lucky as was "Ben" to
> have so many wonderful years, and so many wonderful memories.
>
> God sent you all a little Furry Angel about 11 yrs. ago, and he had to
> return the other day. Remember we are only allowed to borrow them for a
> little while to help us get through our hectic life's. And boy do they
> help with that!
>
> You know how much you loved him, and he did too. And his Love for all of
> you along with never meeting a stranger himself, made him the true Saint
> he was. He's gone for now, but no one whoever knew him will ever forget
> him.
>
> You selected the perfect name for him many years ago, just like the
> perfect companion he was. " Healy's Benedict What A Guy"  1996-2007
>
> Sire: Ch. Healy's Iron Ice Breaker Oh No
> Dam: Healy's Rose Anna Roseanadana
>
> Know that you are in my prayers, and thanks for being such good people,
> and such devoted Saint owners, and Loving and Sharing your "Ben" with so
> many other people.
>
> Cheryl Healy Ricketts
> http://siegfriedsofdixieland.info