Well, it was better than perfect. Timmy was the perfect pairing to my Lassie. Last year Timmy was able to make his first of several trips to Virginia to visit with us. Lassie and Timmy LOVED each other. Timmy's favorite thing to do was give Lassie a treat. When Timmy returned home, I would call him and he would ask to speak with Lassie. Timmy would talk to Lassie and with a little prompting from us (I just whisper the word FOX and he barks like a wild man), Lassie would bark back.
I have learned a lot in the few years that I have known Timmy. I have learned that the entire world should spend a day with Timmy. Timmy is compassionate, loving, intelligent, funny, gentle, and honest. He doesn't live with regret, he doesn't have a mean bone in his body, he would never judge anyone, he embraces each day as a gift from God and enjoys it. Timmy is pure and his thoughts and feelings for other people are pure. Pure Love. No hate. No criticism. No anger. Peace and peaceful. Timmy loves his family, he is a huge NY Mets fan, he listens to his Neil Diamond CDs every night, he loves to go bowling, he attends mass every Sunday, he has won metals in the Special Olympics, he worked for 30 years at the Sheraton Hotel, and he LOVES to sing and dance.
Joe and I worried about telling Timmy about Lassie's passing away. We were hoping that Lassie was going to be able to make it until December 12th when Timmy was scheduled to visit. Sadly that didn't happen. When we called Timmy that night, we told him that Lassie had been diagnosed with Cancer a few months ago and that recently it became difficult for Lassie to walk and there wasn't any medicine that could make him better. Timmy was quiet for a minute, then he said that he was glad that he met Lassie, that he would miss Lassie, but we were all lucky to have had Lassie in our lives. Timmy said he would miss talking with Lassie, but he knows that Lassie isn't hurting any more. Such faith and strength.
Timmy and I both have December birthdays and last year was the first time we celebrated them together. Timmy was born on Christmas Eve in 1957. When we celebrate our birthday's we have one cake that says Happy Birthday Jesus, Timmy, and Lisa. After our meal, the dance party begins with Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, any other music that Timmy likes.
Timmy then serenades us with a few Neil Diamond and Abba songs. I love watching him sing and dance. It makes everyone in the room smile. Before you know it, everyone is singing and dancing. Some of our dance parties have lasted until 2am.
When Timmy visits us next week, he has decided to dedicate one of his songs to Lassie. It won't be the same without Lassie there to great Timmy, but I know that there won't be a dry eye in the room when Timmy sings his song to Lassie. They will be tears of sadness, yet tears of joy. Joyful and thankful that Timmy is there to comfort us, teach us, guide us, and love us. Joyful that Timmy and Lassie created a bond that will last a lifetime.
Thank you Timmy for loving my Lassie. You two were perfect together. xo
Lisa
