Flute Dog
RIP
1988-2002
Buster the Flute Dog had the distinction of hearing more Ocarinas voiced, tuned and played in the last 14 years than any other dog we know.
He was good at soccer, a great swimmer, and a loyal escort as he followed us to and fro in our studio where he lived happily all the days of his life.
Buster died peacefully and gracefully in his sleep this morning, 01-22-2002.  He will be missed so!
HIS APOLOGIES
by Rudyard Kipling
*
Master, this is Thy Servant. He is rising eight weeks old.
He is mainly Head and Tummy. His legs are uncontrolled.
But Thou hast forgiven his ugliness, and settled him on Thy knee...
Art Thou content with Thy Servant? He is *very* comfy with Thee.
*
Master, behold a Sinner! He hath committed a wrong.
He hath defiled Thy Premises through being kept in too long.
Wherefore his nose has been rubbed in the dirt and his self- respect has been bruised.
Master, pardon Thy Sinner, and see he is properly loosed.
*
Master, again Thy Sinner! This that was once Thy Shoe,
He has found and taken and carried aside, as fitting matter to chew.
Now there is neither blacking nor tongue, and the Housemaid has us in tow,
Master, remember Thy Servant is young, and tell her to let him go!
*
Master, extol Thy Servant, he has met a most Worthy Foe!
There has been fighting all over the Shop -- and into the Shop also!
Till cruel umbrellas parted the strife (or I might have been choking him yet),
But Thy Servant has had the Time of his Life -- and now shall we call on the vet?
*
Master, behold Thy Servant! Strange children came to play,
And because they fought to caress him, Thy Servant wentedst away.
But now that the Little Beasts have gone, he has returned to see
(Brushed -- with his Sunday collar on) what they left over from tea.
*
Master, pity Thy Servant! He is deaf and three parts blind.
He cannot catch Thy Commandments. He cannot read Thy Mind.
Oh, leave him not to his loneliness; nor make him that kitten's scorn.
He hath had no other God than Thee since the year that he was born.
*
Lord, look down on Thy Servant! Bad things have come to pass.
There is no heat in the midday sun, nor health in the wayside grass.
His bones are full of an old disease -- his torments run and increase.
Lord, make haste with Thy Lightnings and grant him a quick release!


 FOLLOWS IS A COPY OF AN E-MAIL  WE SENT TO OUR OLD FRIEND BILL WHEN BUSTER DIED.  BILL HAD  GIVEN US A GREAT OLD VW  CAMPER  VAN  IN THE  FALL  OF  2001.  AMONG  BUSTER'S  FAVORITE  THINGS  WAS CAMPING,  GOING  TO  THE  BEACH,  ETC  IN  ONE  OF  THE  NUMEROUS  CAMPERS  WE  HAVE  HAD OVER THE YEARS.  AS  IT  WAS  WINTER  WHEN  THE  VAN  (NICKNAMED 'SCRUFFY' BY BILL) ARRIVED,  WE  NEVER  HAD  A  CHANCE  TO TAKE  A  TRIP  WITH  BUSTER. UNTIL....

Hola Bill,

Thought you would like to know:

The individual who loved your VW more than any other here was our loyal Dog
Buster, Flute-Dog, a dog who has heard more Ocarina tootles than any other
dog, as he lived for fourteen years in our studio.

Buster liked nothing better than hopping in one of the various camper vans
that has been here over the years and go somewhere, anywhere, Let's Go,
Let's Go!!  To the beach, to the Cabin, anywhere.  When it showed up here,
he was ecstatic!!  Needed a little help getting in, but it was love at
first sight.

Alas, he never actually rode anywhere in Scruffy until today, though he sat
in it with me a few times.

Buster went over the 'Rainbow Bridge' this morning, gracefully, peacefully.
 Laid down in the studio for the last time last night at about 6PM and went
sometime after 6AM this morning.

He finally got that ride in Scruffy when I took him to the Doggy Mortuary a
few minutes ago.

Thank you for sending Scruffy Buster's way.  It was one of his last great
pleasures, just to run outside and pee on the wheel, then wag his tail and
bark at the sliding door, Let's Go, Let's Go...

Your loyal pal,

Richard
BACK TO ARCHIVE.HTML