She had long fur like a marmalade infusion of glossy white, black and tan, a calico dog with one blue eye and one brown eye. She was a 42 lb Australian Sheppard blue merle, and her short natural bob tail, had tufts of feathery fur which danced back and forth in happiness when you talked to her or patted her head.  When you spoke to her, she would hold up her large pointed ears and tilt her head sideways, as if trying to deeply understand what you were saying to her, and waiting for that magical phrase, “Let’s go.”  When you finally said “Let’s go” off she would run, grabbing her leash from the door, dragging it through the house, flipping it in your face and then finally dropping it at your feet.   If you weren’t fast enough she would grab one of your shoes, and race through the house with it, saliva getting all over it, but you didn’t mind, because she was like a joyful spinning top that never stopped. 



Sima was one of the smartest dogs I have ever met; everyone loved her, because she was so loving and so full of joy.  She delighted the neighborhood children with her countless tricks and summer time antics, chasing squirrels up trees and then dancing through a succession of sprinklers all the way down the block. We had a special song for her when we gave her a cookie, “Let’s go out to the kitchen, and have ourselves a treat,” we would wail and she would beat you to the kitchen for her reward.  She was incorrigible, bugging you to take her out to pee, and then when you realized she was bluffing, she would plant her butt in front of the cookie jar looking up hopefully.  



But the most fun with Sima, was taking her to the beach.  She sure loved water in any form, and loved playing Frisbee on the beach and chasing balls in the water.  Sima would always attract the wee ones and would be playing chase the Frisbee in the water with a crowd of giggling children.  What always amazed me was watching this pretty little dog wading in the water, watching for a wave, then slamming herself into the wave just as it would crest up towards her swallowing her up in it’s foamy embrace, and then creeping up and wading slowly until the next wave came up, racing up to it and then slamming into it like a dolphin playing in the ocean.  I know, I will never see a wave on the water again without seeing her, and I will always feel blessed to have been privileged to share her life. 



Sima, we will carry you in our hearts forever, and will be so happy for the day we meet again.  We are so happy that we were able to walk with you through your illness all the way to the end of the road to Rainbow Bridge.