Trudie May White (Nov 24 2007—Feb 02 2022)
Trudie peacefully exited her earthly existence and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge after a courageous battle with cancer, finally convincing her thick headed humans that she needed to leave them physically, as it was time for her to fly.
Born to parents Duke Winston Chesterfield and Angelique Rudolfo Chesterfield, Trudie declined to take the weird family name, and in fact, refused to register with the AKC, as she must have known she would outshine all Westies of her lineage before her. She accumulated quite a few nick names through the years, including, but not limited to, Trudie Girl, Trudes, Tru Tru, Girlie Girl, Boo, Pepsi, Pickle Juice, and probably more. She inspired me to make up and sing at least 4 different Trudie girl songs. (These will not be released any time soon, so don't bother checking Spotify)
She enjoyed many things, but one of her favorite things was visiting my Mom, Grandma Donna, at her condo. The old lady spoiled her, gave her so much attention, Trudie basked in it all, loving every minute of it. Grandma often stated that her and my Aunt June (her Sister) thought Trudie should have been named Lola, because "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola gets". (gen z-gen x and millennials will have to google to get the reference) My comment to them both was "That dog is No Lola, She's a Trudie!" Grandma and Trudes had a very close bond. So close, in fact, we're convinced that Grandma came to visit Trudie when she crossed over, because when we arrived home from finding my Mom passed away, Trudie looked like someone who had seen a spirit.
I had talked to my Mom prior to her death, about sending me a sign after she died. To say I had a hard time when my Mom died would be an understatement, we were very close. Shortly after her passing, I began to receive cell calls asking for Lola. Multiple times, for months. Then when Verizon starting blocking unknown calls, I began receiving texts……….again, for Lola………… I'm sure they both think its hysterical now. I'm just thankful spirits have a way to get through since everyone ditched their landlines. They find ways.
Trudie was always ready to travel, and until covid cancelled many planned trips, she was fortunate to be able to visit Parker Canyon Lake, White Water Draw to see the thousands of Sand Hill Cranes that migrate every year, Chiricahua National Monument, Camping on Mount Lemmon and fishing at Rose Canyon Lake, La Jolla California, Bisbee, Pine, Prescott, The Grand Canyon, and of course, countless hours at Fawn Lane, where she loved going on car rides to scout out the deer in the neighborhood. She was fascinated by all of the wildlife, including the turkeys and squirrels, and in spite of being a terrier, never chased any one of them. They all seemed to just have a natural curiosity and respect for each other.
Peanut Butter was her favorite food and 5:15 am would find her human mixing her special organic peanut butter water to mix into her crunchies. Her second favorite thing was getting her teeth brushed with poultry flavored toothpaste (yum) and she developed an uncanny ability to tell time, thus letting me know by deathstare that it was 7:30 pm and I should brush her teeth now! Every. Night. (She had great teeth) I'm now planning on sitting on the kitchen floor for at least 3 minutes, in her honor, every night. Mostly because I don't want to lose the ability to get up off my butt. (Yes, Donna I'm talking to you!)
Trudie had many talents besides being a natural therapy dog, annoyingly able to read my every emotion. Her preferred language was woo-wooing. She really didn't bark much, but if you asked her a question she would woo-woo-woo in response. She also had some strange exercise routine of choo-chooing around the yard. Back and forth, her tongue sticking out as she would propel herself around the yard. Very strange. But it seemed like good stretching and she had a blast doing it!
Her departure day was peaceful. She already had her boarding pass, so she was able to spend a leisurely morning in bed having her last Lavender wipe and brushing beautification. She enjoyed a breakfast of warm hamburger that she was finally able to have, after 14 years of food allergies preventing any beef from touching her pie hole. Finally, a special last morning tooth brushing and a pee in the front yard where Trudie is sure that the bobcat goes. We met with her favorite vet, Dr. Susan, and as we had already said our goodbyes, we just told her "we'll see you soon girl, go find Grandma"! And just like that, her suffering was over, and she left this life as peacefully as she had entered it.
Trudie was preceded in parting by her Westie Grandparents Jake and Josie, Her parents Angel and Duke and 26 brothers and sisters. She is presumably one of the last of her lineage, and as she was the best Westie in the world, her earth parents and are left wondering how they were so blessed to have been given the gift of this little treasure that just happened to be a canine. Trudie was quite the character, and although the loss of her physical presence is painful, and will be for quite a while, our spirit dog, is now here, in our hearts, right where she's always been.
Update: Approximately 2 weeks to the day of Trudies departure, I was still pretty upset that my best dog in the world, and the last Westie I will ever have, was gone. I was really hoping for a sign. Just some little way to know that Trudie was ok. Anything. While searching for original art, at a Goodwill I rarely shop at, I came across a vintage framed piece of sheet music for a new musical from 1955,
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entitled, "Damn Yankees" based on the novel, "The Year The Yankees Lost The Pennant" The music included the score (in bold lettering) "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola gets"
Enough Said.
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