Tribute to Mai-Li Louise Shewbridge 06/05/05 - 01/13/2012

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As most of you know, we lost our littlest Yorkie, Mai-Li, on Friday, January 13th. She was only 6 1/2 but had several health problems since she was little, or since she was young I should say since she only weighed a little over 4 pounds. She was lucky enough to have given birth to two litters, of which we have one baby each: Mumbo and Wiggles.  Here they are all together.....

(L-R) Wiggles, Mumbo, Mai-Li

We adopted all three of them in June of 2010 when their original owner, who we also got Nano and Mia from, was no longer able to care for them. It was only supposed to be for a few weeks but it turned into a permanent thing and we fell in love with them just like they were our own children... I mean, how could you not? Look at those faces....


About the same time, we had adopted our Min-Pin/Chihuahua, Mandie (not knowing we would have 3 other permanent house guests) because she had been abused in her former home. Here is a group shop of them all when we first got them all.....

(L-R) Nano, Mia, Mandie, Mai-Li, Wiggles, Mumbo

And here is a photo from this past Halloween.....

(L-R) Pirate Mandie, Bumble Bee Mai-Li, Capn. Jack Nano, Angel Wiggles,
Hotdog Mumbo, and Princess Mia - who wouldn't wear her hat

And finally here is our Christmas photo from this past year (you may have seen it already, but I love it).....

(L-R, Top) Mai-Li, Wiggles in Polka Dots; (L-R, Bottom) Nano, Mia
Mandie, and Mumbo

Such sweet babies, who are so good and give as much, or even more, love as they get!


Mai-Li was my little snuggle bunny, she loved to sit next to me, on the arm of the chair, while I was working on my laptop. Then when she was sick of me working, she would climb down onto my lap and put her paws onto the keyboard so I couldn't type. She LOVED to watch TV, especially any kind of animal, and NEVER missed a dog on a show, movie, or commercial. She adored the piggie "Maxwell" from the Geico commercial and would get so excited and jump and bark her hoarse little bark (due to her esophageal problem) every time it was on TV. She also loved watching the Pug Screen Cleaner - she would give "Charlie," as we named him, kisses and then try to find him behind the computer when I closed the program... it drove her crazy. She would then jump on me and give me kisses.


There are SO many things that remind me of her, that I find myself crying a lot over the last couple of weeks, she was such a loving and friendly dog. When we took her out for a walk, she didn't wear a leash because of her breathing problem and she would visit everyone, most of whom loved her. When she couldn't walk anymore because he was too tired, she would ride in a pouch on my chest facing OUT so she could see everything that was going on, every once in a while giving me a kiss.


Then at bedtime, she would lay on my pillow right above my head, lying on my shoulder, giving me kisses every once in a while. Then she would fall asleep on my pillow above my head in a ball and snore softly.


Here are some of my favorite photos of Mai-Li during the time that we were so very lucky to love her and care for her in our home.....

Bill buried Mai-Li under the lemon tree in our back yard, where she loved to sit for shade, then he put a small plant on her grave - we are looking for a flowering plant to replace it.

The night after she passed, when I set out the food dishes, I only set out five, but not one of the doggies would touch the first dish, which was always Mai-Li's dish. I couldn't believe it, they shared the other four and left her dish alone.

The other dogs have slowly gotten used to Mai-Li being gone, poor Wiggles and Mumbo lost their mama, but they are doing well. Mumbo has become a bit more clingy to me and has now started loving to be help and cuddle with me - he also likes to be rocked like a baby while I hum. He has taken over the arm of the chair where Mai-Li used to sit. Slowly we are getting back to normal.

Thank you Mai-Li for bringing so much love and light into our lives. We love you and think of you often. Two dear friends sent us this beautiful poem based on a Norse Legend called the Rainbow Bridge that was truly meaningful and comforting. (Thank you Bette & Meryl!)

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Thank you all for being there with your comments on Facebook, Twitter, and your emails over the last week and a half during my very difficult time. They have all meant the world to me and have helped me start getting back on tract and back to my normal activities. HUGGLES ALL!!

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