.To my dear friends, Tinker's and my friends. Tinker is gone now, but I will remember him. I will remember the day he came to live his life with my mother and I. He was a little thing; one day short of 6 weeks old. I could hold him in the palm of a hand. He didn't do any whining about leaving his brothers, and sisters, and mother. Must have figured he had a new family to look after, or to look out for him and his needs. I have had other pups that did the cry bit; I can't recall Tink doing that. He came in and made his place; he was a tough little fur ball. I had people to say, " he is nothing but a lap dog." That might be true for a lot of dogs of his breed. He was a Pekingese you know. He liked to be held for a few minutes. A few minutes that is. After a few minutes he remembered he had things to do. Like make the rounds of the house, both inside and out side. This place needed a guard dog, and I am it. He learned this house and the grounds that went with it was his, not yours, HIS. The car and Jeep was his. Don't you touch it!!. if by chance you got in, it must have come to him, that Bill must have said it is OK. He would look you over for a minute and then kind of leave you alone. That is if you acted normal. He still would keep an eye on you. Now I think he did learn your place is your place, not his. Then Poo came along. Now they were about almost 3 months apart in age, Poo the younger. Poo was about a good 2 months old when he came. He had been moved about a couple times, from a cage to a cage. He was very unsure of if I at last have a home, or is this another move in my life to some other place. I don't thank it took Tink long in telling him the ins and outs of things. I believe it went on the order of. Yes, boy we live here. We are the owners of this operation.. The move stuff is over. This is your home. I do know they became a pair. They looked out for one another. One would feel bad, it was you going to do something for my brother? One would go to the Doc to get something done for his health problem, the other went too. Got to see what the Doc is going to do for my brother you know. Tinker would go in the door of the place. He spoke right up. "We are here for service, What is the problem? Get these people out of our way, we are here." Poo would let Tink do the talking, no need of him saying a word, Tink has told them off. No way was Tinker a lap dog. He was as big as they come. He might only be 25 pounds. That is big for his breed. He was not fat. He was bone and muscle. You could be standing, and he got in his play mood. He would hit you in the back of your knee and it was a blow.

I have told you they knew what was theirs and what was not. We could be out walking on the side walk around this place. They might walk into the yard next door. The feeling comes on for a need of the West room. You could be standing in the path. Here they come, a flash of fur going by, into their yard. You would get the look. I made it to the West Room. I didn't misspell. You see I have a part of the yard fenced off. That was the West Room for them, but any part of this place is/was the West Room in their time of need. It sure wasn't in your yard. I have no idea at this point in time how they picked up on that. If they were on a trip it was a different matter. They knew Bill would take care of the problem.

Trips, yes they made the trips. It made no difference if it was to the stores in town, or on a long trip. They went. Those two went to Texas, a couple times. To the East coast a couple times. To Missouri many a time. They lived. The car or Jeep rolls we go too. Something might happen, you do need a couple guards don't you?

Guards yes I must say they were pretty good at that. I could put them out in their part of the yard. Close the gate and go do something. After a bit look to see what is going on. You spot one, the other was only a few feet away. If and when they got every thing checked out, you would see them laying down. Nine times out of ten, one is facing one way, and the other be watching his back side. If any one came walking up, they would find two sets of eyes looking. Both mouths be talking. It depend on who it was walking. Mother and I both got the great to see you voice. Others got the get out of here voice, go home, who asked you here in the first place?

I feel sorry for people that never had a dog. I feel sorry for people that never knew the joy of a sloppy kiss from a dog. I feel sorry for those that say so what? It is only a dog. I feel sorry for those that say a dog is worthless. Those will never know the meaning of true love. A dog don't ask for much. They give so much more then they get in return so much of the time. They will be at your side, no mater, be you rich, poor or somewhere in between. All they ask is can I share this life with you for a while. You see they believe and know one thing. They have a pure love to give, they will give that for a little care, a little food and to be at your side, no mater your lot in life.

They are not a dumb dog. I took Tink to his doctor for the last time yesterday. 17 Feb 2004. He was very sick. I had the feeling this was his last ride alive. At 2 PM. I brought him home for the last time in a sealed box. He never came out of it. His heart just gave out. Poo was in the car. He looked at the box. He knew his brother was in it. The ground here is frozen, at least a foot of snow. Tinker Chang Boy will be placed in the ground at Rolling Acres Pet Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska at a later date. He was 15 years, 3 months and a few days old.

A Vet told me one day. Both of them were there to see him about something. This Doc said. "Bill you love both of these, I know. Tinker is your dog, you are his. You have a once in a life time dog. You may have others. Tinker is a pure once in a life time dog." Tinker is gone now. Very true. This is not a Good Bye Tinker. It is a So Long Tinker for now. Till we meet again. Yes, we will meet again. You see I believe our Father which are in Heaven wants us to be happy when we go home. We will have our pets there. We will get that slop kiss once again, that tail going 90 miles an hour. And that greeting it sure is great to see you once again. Jesus will wipe my tears away, and say here is your little friends.. Bob, MingToy, Chinker, Chinker Boy, Tinker, and Poo. There may be others too, you see in my travels on this earth I have become friends to other Little People.

So Long Tinker, you sure was one of the best of the best.

*******************************************************

As I am at the closing of this, the door bell rang. I went to the door. There stood a man with a single rose all in a fancy little package. I had no idea who it could be from. The card said..

Dr.Mike Joyce, and the staff at Eastside Pet Clinic. Beatrice, Nebraska.

I have had both my mother and dad pass away. I never got so much as a card from their doctor. Got the bill, no card.. Makes one wonder who has a heart.