Rest In Peace

My late father with his dog Smoky

Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide. 
Tragically my fathers death is another example of this.
Please treat depression with your loved ones, especially following a stroke.

Rest In Peace Heidi Haskins

My parents adopted a daughter, Heidi Haskins who died as an infant. Not knowing her is one of the great regrets of my life. Sadly my parents subscribe to a stylized colonial sense of etiquette that sweeps things like dead infants and suicide under the rug. I feel that to erase the memory of my sister is extremely disrespectful.

Chester Bear

"Chester Bear" Haskins 1989-2003
Chester was 7/8 Golden Retriever and 1/8 Irish Red Setter
He was a rescue.  It was an honor and a privilege to share his life


Sabrina Bear

"Sabrina Bear" Haskins 1995-2011
We adopted her as a malnourished pure bred puppy from the pound 15 years ago.
I sincerely pray she is with her soul mate Chester Bear.


In these two pics she is with Buddy Bear, pictures of her and Chester above.

Buddy Bear
 "
"Buddy Bear" Haskins 2003-2010
A pure Redbone Coonhound who loved his pack and we love him

There are a lot of gross distortions about the late great Buddy Bear.  In today's out of control litigious society where people are not responsible for their own actions and lawsuits abound.  I don't feel comfortable giving the details of what Buddy did inside the confines of my Suburban.  I thank all the friends who sent me messages of support.  If you know me ask and I shall explain.  Everyone who has heard the facts as detailed in discovery agrees that the current legal system is very broken.


 

My only Ink.  Left is minutes old and right is after healing.  The picture on the left was at the tattoo studio and look what's in the background.

 

One crystal clear memory of high school was the toast "To Absent Friends" at a military cadet dinner.  The outline of the tattoo is from a paw casting Lynn a kind and wonderful Vet made after Buddy Bear passed away. Art by Bryan Kachel at Cicada Tattoo in Seattle.  I sat next to a native American lady by the name of Cheyenne on a South West flight.  She was on her way to a Pow Wow.  I was travelling from Seattle to Texas with Smokestack my Beagle cross at my feet..  She showed me her memorial tattoo which was small and simple inside of her wrist.  It's what inspired my tattoo.

A partial list of the "To Absent Friends" I miss:

My daughter with the late Tony Snow at a troop support concert
He lived "winning over one fan at a time" by being one of the nicest people one could ever spend time with.
It was an honor  to cater a lunch of BBQ and Brownies for him at KVI Radio in Seattle.

A Few word that have brought me comfort

"If there are no dogs in Heaven,
then when I die, I want to go
where they went."
Will Rogers, 1897-1935

 

An old man and his dog were walking down this dirt road with fences on both sides, they came to a gate in the fence and looked in, it was nice - grassy, woody areas, just what a 'huntin' dog and man would like, but, it had a sign saying 'no trespassing' so they walked on.
 

They came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes standing there. "Welcome to Heaven" he said. The old man was happy and started in with his dog following him.
 

The gatekeeper stopped him. "Dogs aren't allowed, I'm sorry but he can't come with you." "What kind of Heaven won't allow dogs? If He can't come in, then I will stay out with him. He's been my faithful companion all his life, I can't desert him now." "Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area, he'll promise you anything, but, the dog can't go there either. If you won't leave the dog, you'll spend Eternity on this road " So the old man and dog went on.
 

They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a hole. Another old man was inside. "Scuse me Sir, my dog and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and sit in the shade for awhile?" "Of course, there's some cold water under that tree over there. Make yourselves
comfortable " "You're sure my dog can come in? The man down the road said dogs weren't allowed anywhere." "Would you come in if you had to leave the dog?" " No sir, that's why I didn't go to Heaven, he said the dog couldn't come in. We'll be spending Eternity on this road, and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But, I won't come in if my buddy here can't come too, and that's final. "
 

The man smiled a big smile and said "Welcome to Heaven." "You mean this is Heaven? Dogs ARE allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?" "That was the Devil and he gets all the people who are willing to give up a life long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but, then it's too late. The dogs come here, the fickle people stay there.
GOD wouldn't allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, HE created them to be man's companions in life, why would he separate them in death?"
 

Author Earl Hamner
The Twilight Zone

 

©2010 Konrad Haskins Konrad@KonradHaskins.com Return To Home Page