By Georgia Osten
Darned Facebook, when I least expect it, they send me a picture that brings back bittersweet memories. The picture I found today was taken 4 years ago. It was my sweet 13 year old golden retriever, Ruby. There was a time when we couldn’t get down to the beach – Ike! Our beach house was destroyed and we had to rebuild – no weekend trips to the beach for quite some time. It showed on all of us. No tan lines for us and Ruby began to put on a few pounds.
When we were finally able to return, a terrible accident occurred to Ruby. She broke her rear left leg in a little skirmish with Riley, her lab cousin. 
The vet said the leg was weakened due to cancer and Ruby had to have her leg amputated. She thrived nevertheless. We still took long walks on the beach, she chased the tennis ball and cleared the stairs with no trouble. The pounds disappeared naturally, the hair covered her missing leg and she was a happy camper again. She had no trouble swimming either, following us out into the surf to the second sandbar as we tried to catch some fish.
We’ll never forget her, we even call Maezy “Ruby” from time to time. We think it’s probably an honor for Maezy, who knows?
[10-19-2015]
GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you.
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