This Sunday, I'm sharing a special memory garden that was created by my childhood friend, Martha Sue. The story behind it is so touching, you'll smile and cry at the same time.
Martha and her late husband, Mike, were owned by an adorable Jack Russell terrier named Petey.
"Petey Ecclesiastes was a gorgeous Jack Russell Terrier," Martha said. "Petey (his name was Pete Ecclesiastes so his nick was Petey) lived to be 16 years old. His life story is very interesting, because he was special to me and my late husband, Mike."
"Petey was our little clown!" Martha said. "He loved Halloween! We dressed him in a different costume every year. This particular Halloween, Petey wanted to be Superman. He loved to greet trick-or-treaters at the door."
"Pete, forever faithful, forever true, watching over my two-year-old granddaughter," Martha said. "When she visited Nana, Pete never left her side."
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"Nine years later, he was still guarding over his baby girl."
A cherished photo of Petey and Martha. "He was my baby," she said.
In 2012, shortly before Mike lost his long battle with heart ailments, Petey seemed to know something was wrong.
"Petey died a few months before my husband, Mike, had his third heart attack in 2012," Martha said. "Petey knew Mike was sick and it upset Petey so badly, that he wouldn't go around Mike or even look at him. He'd just walk around Mike, making a sighing noise. He no doubt knew about Mike's future. I took Petey to the vet because he stopped eating and the vet really didn't know what was wrong. I suspect Petey knew Mike's time to go was near and it upset him. Petey went on to Heaven ahead of Mike so that it might be easier for Mike. Petey was like that."
In 2012, shortly before Mike lost his long battle with heart ailments, Petey seemed to know something was wrong.
"Petey died a few months before my husband, Mike, had his third heart attack in 2012," Martha said. "Petey knew Mike was sick and it upset Petey so badly, that he wouldn't go around Mike or even look at him. He'd just walk around Mike, making a sighing noise. He no doubt knew about Mike's future. I took Petey to the vet because he stopped eating and the vet really didn't know what was wrong. I suspect Petey knew Mike's time to go was near and it upset him. Petey went on to Heaven ahead of Mike so that it might be easier for Mike. Petey was like that."
"Here is a picture of a butterfly," Martha said. " The butterfly isn't very visible. But I just had to take the picture when it landed on the lantana in front of Petey's tombstone."
"Petey loved birds, especially hummingbirds and butterflies," Martha explained. "He wouldn't hurt a flea--no pun intended--and when he napped outside, butterflies would light on him and spend time. Pete would allow butterflies to do that. When I go up to the garden, from spring through early fall, I can always find a butterfly visiting his grave; sometimes dancing around on his tombstone."
Martha's two children live nearby, and she is blessed with two beautiful grandchildren.
Martha's love of gardening extends to creating beautiful, seasonal wreaths for her front door.
Martha's love of gardening extends to creating beautiful, seasonal wreaths for her front door.
She always smiles when she sees a butterfly in Petey's memory garden.
What a beautiful garden, so full of love, just like Martha herself.
The flowers seem to remind us that life goes on. But memories are in full bloom.
A Metamorphosis Monday contribution.
Photo Credits: Martha Sue P.
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