Cooperative Living August 2016 - 6

Mailbag
Our hearts go out to
Margo, along with our
best wishes for her to
carry on. Although she
says Brownie was her
last, perhaps she might
NOTE
EMAIL
WRITE US!
READERS WILL MISS
BROWNIE, TOO
To Margo Oxendine, in reference to
the July column ( " Here's to Brownie:
The Best Dog a Girl Could Ask For " ),
our hearts ache for you. I have enjoyed
reading your column because of
Brownie. Please remember that you did
what was best for her.
We will miss Brownie, too.
- Kris Golashesky, via email
PET'S LOSS A SOURCE OF
GREAT GRIEF
In the hierarchy of human grief, few
events can top the loss of a good dog.
Margo Oxendine's tearful account of
Brownie's passing in her July Rural
Living column recalls to all dog lovers
the heart-rending pain of losing a
creature that bonds with humans in an
almost indescribable relationship of
unconditional love and companionship.
Many folks will happily pass by the
Rainbow Bridge one day and collect
some dear old tail-waggers.
WhatzIt?
Make your best guess at this photo of a
familiar but unidentified object. Send it in
writing with your name, address and phone
number to WhatzIt?, c/o Cooperat ive Living,
P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340; or
guess online at www.co-opliving.com under
" Contests. " Dead line for entries is Aug. 15. All
correct entries will be put into a drawing and a
winner announced in the October 2016 issue.
The winner will re ceive a check for $25. 
4 | Cooperative Living | August 2016
re-think that decision
some day. We lost a dear
dog and lasted about five
years until we needed another
pooch. The tradeoff of
knowing another painful loss
will someday occur vs. the day-to-day joy
of a good dog weighed on us, but in the
end we opted for the dog. Glad we did.
Margo, don't close that door. There will
not be another Brownie, but there may be
a dear different one.
ADDRESS
We want to hear from you - comments,
opinions, suggestions. Your letter must be
signed and legible. We reserve the right to edit for
grammar, style and length, with a 250-word maximum
for acceptance. Write: MAILBAG, P.O. Box 2340, Glen
Allen, VA 23058-2340; or email mailbag@co-opliving.com.
Please include your name and city/town of residence, with
Mailbag as the subject.
those walks and the increased distance
that was part of the rehab exercise plan.
By the time Harley's rehab was done, we
- Marion Dongieux, Montross
READER IDENTIFIES WITH MARGO
BECAUSE OF SIMILAR LOSS
I have been reading about Margo
Oxendine and Brownie for quite a few
years now and I was dreading her last
column about Brownie's passing. I guess I
can identify with this better than some
because I lost my dear, sweet Harley (black
Lab) this past March 3 when I had to let
him go to the Rainbow Bridge.
We think we are rescuing our furry
animal friends, but it is usually the other
way around. When I adopted my Harley
from the Newport News SPCA, they
estimated him to be about 2 years old.
Shortly after the adoption Harley tore his
ACL, which required a doggie knee
replacement. Part of his rehab was two
daily walks for about a block, which was
all I could do at the time. Well, it wasn't
long before I was really looking forward to
were hiking through most of the parks in
our part of Chesterfield County. We were
eventually doing up to five miles a day and
I told everyone that he was my exercise
manager because he was not going to let
the day get away from us without our
special walk.
Harley and I enjoyed nine years
together. His ashes will also be buried with
me when my time comes and there will be
no more dogs for me either. I've already
had the very best.
Brownie was a lucky dog to have found
such a loving home with Margo, whom
she knew she would always be safe with,
until the very end.
- Sally Burch Johnson, via email
THE SOONER WE MOVE TO
RENEWABLES, THE BETTER
The letters over the last few months are
oddly biased in favor of entrenched fossil
fuel interests rather than reflecting
legitimate interests - which include clean
air and water - of co-op members. The
sooner we move to renewables, with their
steadily dropping costs, the better off we'll
The June
WhatzIt? was a
sliced tomato
and reader
Sonya Williams
(photo unavailable)
of Emporia
was our $25 winner.
Congratulations,
Sonya!
 DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
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Cooperative Living August 2016

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