Frida Resumes Her Perch

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Frida Resumes her Perch

If you have been around for awhile, you know about my dog Frida, who passed away in October, 27 months ago.  At that time, I published this poem in her memory: https://judydykstrabrown.com/2016/10/11/look-up-poem-for-a-good-good-girl/
which was about, among other things, her love of standing on the dome of my house and supervising the world about her. For two years, I fantasized about finding a dog similar to her and cementing it to the dome with her ashes inside so she could spend eternity in her favorite spot. Finally, I located what I thought was the right dog, and this is the story that followed:

Please click on photos to enlarge and read the captions.

Diego came up to inspect the situation.
Later, I returned to the gallery and brought home a larger dog in Frida’s more classic position–sitting or standing erect surveying the neighborhood.
Gerardo and his brother lugged her up to the roof, and
this one was perfect.
We assembled the concrete, the water and trowels,
And they built a concrete base for the sculpture.
The next job was to get Frida’s ashes into the small hole at the bottom of the sculpture.
I brought a funnel, but it didn’t work.
Finally, they cut a corner off the plastic bag that held her remains and poured it into the hole.
Once she was situated on the base,
Frida II is installed.
Of course, the neighbors soon gathered to witness just what was going on. Brad and Dave were first to notice.
Then Thomas.
Then the construction guys from the house being constructed up the hill behind Thomas and Brad and Dave’s houses.
Then went down to look up. She was going to be perfect.
And Frida’s ashes went into this effigy which we concreted in place on her favorite place on the dome, to watch for as long as I have any say in the matter.
Once Gerardo and his brother had left, I went over to Brad and Dave’s to see how she looked from their house. They definitely have the best view.. from every door and window on the east side of their house.
Keep a watch for us, girl .
For the fifteen or more years Frida lived with me, this is where she was most of the time, checking out the neighborhood and occasionally barking at someone who didn’t belong there.

Ironically, the day Gerardo and his brother were due to come permanently install Frida’s memorial, my cat of 18 years, Annie, finally grew so ill that I called the vet to come to the house to put her to sleep, and luckily Gerardo and brother didn’t make it, but came instead today. Somehow this reaching of the goal to memorialize Frida helped somewhat to dilute the sadness over Annie’s  departure. Plans are in the works for her memorial.  R.I.P. beloved friends.

9 thoughts on “Frida Resumes Her Perch”

  1. slmret's avatarslmret

    What a wonderful memorial — Frida will become a landmark in your community! There’s a dog in Santa Barbara with a similar story — he stands on a street corner in front of a rather large, iconic home. When the house was sold, the dog stayed with the house, rather than moving with the people, and it has since become “the house with the dog!” I believe it’s for sale again (or has just sold), with the dog attached!

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  2. Marilyn Armstrong's avatarMarilyn Armstrong

    lt’s never the right time to say goodbye but you seem to have made peace with it. I sorry with you, but your furry ones were ready to go and that makes it somehow feel only sad, not tragic. More joy will come. I see it in the stars. Our stars.

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