Suzy Nakajima

8/3/1998 - 7/11/2012

Born in Japan as 'Anice of Sirius Koike FCI', you went wherever we went -
- California, Illinois, Canada, Yokohama
- before finally retiring back here in California.

The last couple of years were not always easy, but you were so brave...
and I am so grateful that you were able to enjoy life once more
in those weeks before you had to leave us so suddenly.
It was lovely seeing you bouncing up the stairs in front of me to go to bed
just the night before your little body gave up, and your last day with us
was also so ordinary - wonderfully so, in hindsight.

I know you heard everything I said to you in that last hour,
because you used up what little breath you had left to answer me.
You were always such a good communicator.
So clever, so stubborn, so sensitive, so special.
I will never forget your warmth beside me at night, your voice,
your smell and of course, those wise eyes that spoke a thousand words,
and that followed me everywhere, even after they stopped seeing too well.

Today (August 4, 2012) would have been your 14th birthday,
and we bought cake to celebrate the almost 14 years
of wonderful 'Suzydom' that you gave us all.
You would've liked the strawberries on the cake.

Until we meet again.
With lots of love from your Mommy, Daddy, brother and sister xxxx

中島スージー、1998年〜2012年。
13年と11ヶ月、ずっと病弱だったにもかかわらずその小さな体で
何度も海を渡る引っ越しを体験したり、過酷な治療を続けたり…
本当に良く頑張ったよね。
お疲れさま。そしてありがとう、スージー。
虹の橋の向こうで、みんなと仲良く。
のんびり待っててね。