In Memory of Ritzie

Last Friday DH went up into the mountains south of Thorpe, WA to participate in DH's ham radio Field Day. We'd scoped out the area a couple of weeks before, and he found a few places that would work for him. They were due back Sunday evening.

Sunday morning I received a call from a repeater station master informing me that DH was on his radio with a message for me that Ritz was missing. He'd been looking for her since early morning. We arranged a place to meet him, and I headed out with Bigun, praying all the way of the hour plus drive (90+ miles) to the base of the mountain.

We drove home in our separate vehicles that night in gridlock traffic, without Ritz. We searched diligently, but found only signs of mountain lion -- fresh signs. Still we searched each section around the campsite, hoping to see her red coat -- extending far beyond the range of a 14.5 year Lhasa. We were sick. We drove down the mountain together, speechless in our confrontation of the unimaginable -- at least to us, two city kids that never thought....

And poor Ritz paid for our ignorance.

I am here to tell you that I will never set foot in those mountains, again. I am just not up to it. I still love the wild places, and now I have a greater respect for it -- but that particular mountain has a black place in my heart because it will always remind me that our poor little girl walked away from the tent, and never returned, and we have only ourselves to blame.

God rest you, Ritzie. May He hold you in the palm of His hand and restore you to the vital, energetic pup you always were. If I can be forgiven for letting you go in harm's way, I hope you will wait for me at the bridge, that we may again walk in peace and light, and safety.


Ritzie's Photo Album