The untamed heart who taught us about love and letting go
Before I say my full goodbye to Sadie and Lily, I want to pause and remember the one who first taught me what it means to love and lose a companion like this. Ginger Sue was Sadie’s sister, a whirlwind of energy and spirit who left a mark on all of us—especially on my daughter, Sydnee, who was her person through and through.
Ginger was complicated, frustrating, funny, and unforgettable. Though her time with us was too short, her legacy runs deep. I shared these words some time ago with my family to honor her memory, and as I prepare to leave Sadie and Lily for this new chapter in China, it feels right to share them again here.
In the lush green tranquility of Farm 12, where the open fields beckon with the promise of freedom and the joy of unbound sprinting, we gather to remember Ginger Sue—a spirit both delicate and daring, a soul that embodied the complex tapestry of life’s fears and braveries.
Her escapades, those spontaneous dashes for “freedom,” were more than mere acts of defiance; they were expressions of a spirit too vast for any one yard to contain.
Ginger was more than just a “puppy dog”; she was a companion, a source of laughter, a beam of light that could brighten the dullest of days. Her journey was one of resilience, a trek from distant shores that saw her, alongside her sister Sadie, traverse the vast Pacific to find a home where love was limitless and the horizon was an invitation to explore.
She lived as many of us wish we could: with a heart unrestrained and a courage that often hid behind a veil of apprehension. To witness Ginger at play was to see the essence of life itself—unhurried, exuberant, and pure. Off-leash, she danced to the music of the wind, every bound and leap a note in her symphony of playfulness. On-leash, she was the epitome of grace, a testament to the trust and bond she shared with her beloved human, Sydnee.
Her escapades, those spontaneous dashes for “freedom,” were more than mere acts of defiance; they were expressions of a spirit too vast for any one yard to contain. And while the game of “catch me if you can” might have frayed the nerves of any loving guardian, for Ginger, it was an expression of her deepest delight—each chase, an adventure, every car ride, an odyssey.
We envision her at Farm 12 one last time, where the tracks and fields hold the echoes of her paws, and the wind whispers her name with each rustle of the leaves.
In her passing—a tragic, untimely departure on wings of misfortune—we feel the heavy silence of absence. Yet, within this solemn void, we choose to celebrate Ginger Sue. We imagine her final run, not as an end, but as the beginning of a different journey. We envision her at Farm 12 one last time, where the tracks and fields hold the echoes of her paws, and the wind whispers her name with each rustle of the leaves.
We let her go, not with the sorrow of loss, but with the promise of remembrance. For in the hush of the fields, in the soft comfort of a dog bed, in the companionship of Sadie and the love of Sydnee, Ginger lives on. Her legacy is one of joy, of overcoming, of the boundless enthusiasm with which she embraced each day.
As we bid farewell to Ginger Sue, we hold onto the image of her—a russet flash against the green, a heart so big that the world itself could not contain it. May she run forever in the fields beyond, where every day is a car ride, and freedom is infinite.
Ginger Sue, forever cherished, forever missed, forever free.
Echo From The West 
One response to “Forever Free: Remembering Ginger Sue”
[…] with my wife about bringing Sadie with me to China. We considered it seriously. She and her sister Ginger (rest her soul) were both rescue dogs from Taiwan, so in a way, Asia is familiar soil to her. My […]
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