Bonnie came into my life when my Mother and Uncle Mike purchased her for my Grandma Betty. My Grandma Betty had Scotties for most of her life. She had become a little lonely as my Grandpa Ted had passed a few years prior and my Mom and Uncle Mike figured it was time she had a dog again and some much needed company. Bonnie was the runt of her litter and was very small for a typical Scottie. What she lacked in size she more than made up in Scottie attitude. A chewer to begin with she terrorized not only my Grandma Betty's wardrobe but managed to chew up my Uncle Mike's glasses on occasion. For a few years my Grandma Betty and Bonnie lived together as devoted companions. My Grandma enjoyed taking Bonnie on walks to the park. You could always get Bonnie fired up if you mentioned "go for a walk." Bonnie was a vigilant steward of her yard. My Grandma's house which later would become my own had a large bay window that faced the gate where cars entered the property from a large private drive. Bonnie enjoyed sitting in her special stoop and surveying the yard like a dedicated guard. Bonnie especially disliked foreign invaders particularly cats (she never harmed one) and birds. One particular time in Bonnie's life I had to take a broom and shoo away a cat which turns out was twice as big as Bonnie and would have wiped the proverbial floor with her if the encounter escalated. Bonnie enjoyed gardening and mowing the lawn. When I would garden she would always be close and make sure my work was sound. The lawn mower was another nemesis and was frequently harassed by her during my weekly mows. Sadly, when my Grandma Betty passed I inherited Bonnie which was a blessing. She became the consummate friend. A piece of my Grandma stayed alive for quite sometime within Bonnie. Bonnie was an escape artist as well. Having endeared herself to my Grandma's and my longtime neighbor Danielle she in her youth would try to exploit any breach of the gated yard. At times I would catch her going under the fence or Danielle would retrieve her on one of her walks as Bonnie took an impromptu canvass of the neighborhood. Needless to say I had to Bonnie proof the yard from her prying paws. In winter time, Bonnie enjoyed knocking down ornaments and making a mess of some presents. As she grew out of this following her puppy stage she enjoyed sitting in the lap of a full sized Santa that we propped up in a seating chair near the aforementioned bay window. My game used to be to scare her when I'd come home and she'd be on the couch or someplace she wasn't supposed to be laying. On this particular evening we found her curled up in Santa's lap in this chair. I banged on the window to snap her to attention and I got more than I bargained for. Bonnie relieved herself on Santa. The Santa was washable so he got the washing machine treatment and my ex-wife and I got a memory and laugh of a lifetime. Bonnie was a true Scottie, stubborn and loyal. Bonnie was with me some of the most wonderful times of my life and was a rock for me in some of the worst times of my life. I think a lot of people could say that about a pet. Their unconditional and innate ability to sense when you need them the most makes them indispensable in life's journey. I miss Bonnie as much as I miss a lot of the pets who have blessed my life. May she be as stubborn and headstrong in heaven as she was on this earth. We love you Bonnie and miss you!