Obituary of Buddy Jackson

BUDDY

 

Forever in our hearts, Buddy passed away Friday, May 31, 2019.

 

Buddy became a member and ruler of our roost January 7, 2006; born in Lancaster, November 15, 2005, to his Mother Pooch and Father Nancy.

 

Overtime, Buddy spoke to each one of us measuring

how we met to his scale of standards and needs.  His love was given freely, until he heard the words, “Is that my food?”  We learned when Buddy's bowl was full of food, that he knew it was, “Buddy's food”, that we would not be moving it, touching, getting close to, or invite someone in the same room that he didn't know at the same time ... the gentle giant became Mr. Tough Guy, and rightly so … we were not supposed to tease.

 

Spoiled early, after their walk, young Buddy's breakfast started with GSkip, giving him two pieces of dry toast; a habit that continued.

 

While enjoying listening to Classical and Jazz music, at times, riding in the car and the radio on, he would join Jonathan in song ... or, tell Dawn, “I love you”.

 

Spending most of the time alone together, taking the place of Pooch, Dawn started letting puppy Buddy take afternoon naps on the bed --- thru the years, she continued to baby, doctor, feed, lecture and nurture this fifth personality in her life.

 

Jaime, Kendel, Virginia and Jonathan would dress Buddy up in costumes, play in the woods, the creek and, or explore the novelties of the hills, and the unpaved road, rocks, with the puddles on Murphy Road.

 

Nudging her hand, he depended on Gma scratching his head or rubbing his back so long, the legs would sink to the floor in a state of ecstasy  – when the rubbing stopped, Buddy would get up and put his nose under her hand nudging it, to continue.

 

Jon was Buddy's hero and best friend … his attention to Jon's whereabouts, movements and waiting to hear the words, “Want to go Bye Bye?” … “let's go out and hit some sticks” … Sunday mornings was just the best, as the ride to get the Sunday papers; Buddy jump in the van, sit up in the passenger seat, sometimes with his head out of the window.  But,the short time spent in the parking lot, or just away or, out of the van and out of site, the repetitious barking would begin … Buddy was not a biter, he was a barker

 

Bedtime at the Jacksons was always an adventure; the master bed obviously was by invitation only by Buddy and, Dawn was not invited … always working on something, her later night entrance to bed, slipping under the covers became a challenge, which she met head on … the ritual continued until Buddy's legs began to give out and he could not jump up on the bed without help.

 

His medical condition failing, our big move from Chadds Ford, to Holly Oak, was a good time for him … At 14 years of age,  he got to ride somewhere, and everywhere in the van or the car every day for weeks … he wasn't healthy now, and all the excitement took some of the wind out of his sails, but he enjoyed being with us, all of the time … no time spent being alone and wondering where are they now … what's happening … he got his first and only trip to Rehoboth Beach and got to spend two nights at 36  ….

 

Truth be told, Buddy told us that afternoon, its time … I can't climb those stairs anymore. … you could see him giving in … He knew …

 

We took him on his last trip to anywhere …. Dawn walked Buddy into the room and made a point of going to Gma and then to Kendel, turned to Dawn and Jon and then to the Dr. Tancredi as if to say, “let's go”, and we did.

 

No more pill taking, health issues, he's chasing sticks, fox and deer in that faraway place where we will meet again.  Hope they give him toast in the morning … he would like that.