Bonnie

Submitted by Norris and Angela Ham

As I was searching my heart for words to describe our dear sweet Bon Bon, I kept finding myself falling into a prayer. It struck me as funny at first; but as I kept finding words of thanks in my heart, the purpose for the prayer was made so very clear. Thank you Lord. Thank you for Miss Bon Bon. Thank you for her life. Thank you for opening up our home. Thank you for the lady that adopted our previous foster so that we had room for Bonnie. Thank you for creating a dog that could trust my wife and I after such a horrible life of abuse and neglect.

My wife Angela and I were very blessed for the 7 months that Bonnie lived with us. I wish there were words to describe her beauty, her trusting spirit, her courage, but all words seem to wane when used to describe our Bonzer. She was kind. She was gentle. She was trusting. She was sunshine. And she was so stingy on the kisses.

My wife and I, through our dating experience, found that kisses meant more when they were truly earned and never over-used. We felt that way about Bonnie. She was such a stingy kisser. We would beg for a small brush of the tongue against our cheek only to come up short on numerous occasions.

Then one day it happened. We took a ride in the car, which she always loved. We brought her inside. We gave her a new toy, which she just grabbed and carried to her pillow and dropped it where she knew she could find it again and sleep on it. She came back out to us and as my wife lay on the floor next to her, she cautiously licked her nose. I will remember that moment for the rest of my life.

Through a life of pain, she was still able to love. How I wish for that grace and strength to fall upon humanity. You can learn nothing from words but everything from one action. The song below was written by one of my favorite bands. The song is called “Sweet and Broken” and was written by John Popper, lead singer and writer for the band, Blues Traveler. I believe that Bonnie was everything that is described in this song.

Bonnie,

Angela and I love you very much and will never forget you. Thank you for using our arms and running into them when you needed comfort. Thank you for your grace. We will miss you very much, but know that you will never be gone in our hearts. Your kisses, although stingy, had so much meaning in them. Thank you for letting us love you.

Norris and Angela Ham

“She smokes my last cigarette
She forgives me but I don’t know it yet
And I don’t ask but sometimes why is beautiful
She’s a little cheap, but worth the wait
Of honeyed kisses, sleeping late
They steal my covers, but I’m just glad my bed is full”

“And if the words were spoken
They’d shatter on the floor
And once they’d broken open
Would it matter anymore
You’ve got to love her to see her
And in seeing there’s hoping
Oh she’s so sweet
She’s sweet and broken”

“She’ll never tell you everything
She’s the fire the darkness brings
And I get lost but that’s just where I’m supposed to be
She won’t say why she cries
At marigolds and butterflies
And why her smile seems to hide a tragedy”

“And if the words were spoken
They’d shatter on the floor
And once they’d broken open
Would it matter anymore
You’ve got to love her to see her
And in seeing there’s hoping
Oh she’s so sweet
She’s sweet and broken”

“I see her rising through the trees
She’s like a wounded moon, gazing back at me”

“And if the words were spoken
They’d shatter on the floor
And once they’d broken open
Would it matter anymore
You’ve got to love her to see her
And in seeing there’s hoping
She’s so sweet
She’s sweet and broken”

~ Blues Traveler
Sweet and Broken