She Was Magic.

paying my respects to my best friend, lil' foxie

Hey! I’m back…
For those not aware, before Sundae Matinee was a newsletter, it was a blog that first originated on Tumblr (you can find it here). It was a place where I shared creatures, scenic destinations and a sprinkling of sweet stuff. Mostly experiments that I conducted in my laboratory along with just neat stuff I wanted to share with others. When my pup Lil’ Foxie came into my life, it was something we worked on together. Eventually my priorities had to shift and the blog was retired.

As you most likely have noticed I have been in hiding for a bit. Don’t worry my escape is on track and I am ready to start sharing things with you once more. However, before we get to the regularly scheduled program, I first must pay my respects to my best friend and magical gal pal, Lil’ Foxie who left this mortal coil on Wednesday, September 20.

I was awoken on the night of September 21 and much of the words below were given to me. There was also the reminder that when I attended journo school I always wanted to write obituaries… I never thought it would be for someone that I loved so much but when you receive a call from beyond the grave you answer it. By the command of Lil’ Foxie let this be the rekindling of Sundae Matinee.

photo courtesy of Benjamin when we stayed at Lake Michigan in May 2023

She had many names.
First it was Missy Elliott. Foxtrot. Fox. Foxie. Foxiekins. If you were one of the fortunate souls to make her acquaintance, you came to know her as Lil’ Foxie. And just like her many names she taught me that I could be many things.

I think it was a few years ago or so that I realized the apostrophe in her name wasn’t in the right place. This was part of her charm, as she was a rule breaker.

Adoption photo.

It was my partner in crime, Benjamin that led me to her. On a faithful day in October, he sent me her adoption photo from PAWS. In seeing her picture sparks flew and I was struck… a connection was made. Within minutes I completed the application process. This pup had to be in my arms. The evening we were introduced, Benjamin and I were accompanied by our other doggo, Mr. Chow to ensure the two pups would get along. She barked incessantly the entire time and leapt on his back from the arm of a chair. Before we left the fosters’ home, I told them we were interested in adoption.

When her spaceship crashed in Philadelphia, she had no choice but to hit the pavement in search of the perfect pad. The little angel known as Foxie, had a troubling past filled with gutter pizza, cigarette holders, and stale beer. She experienced street livin’ which lead to rotten teeth, bad manners, and loneliness. Benjamin, Mr. Chow, and I provided her with comfort which, in turn, reformed her into a model citizen as evidenced below.

Model citizens Mr. Chow and Lil’ Foxie ready to assist you with all problems.

Foxie and I shared a lot together. During her time on earth many coincidences between the two of us were revealed. I often referred to us as E.T. and Elliot. I’ll leave it to you to decide who was who in this relationship.

We were both born in October; her on the 12th, me on the 13th. Like her adoption given name, I too was almost fated to be a Missy. Thankfully my grandmother intervened and gave my mother a pep talk demanding that my name be Rosalie (which just so happened to be her name too). Benjamin and I landed on Lil’ Foxie due to her looking like a fox and welllll… we are not that creative when it comes to names (i.e. Mr. Chow).

Other commonalities we shared:

• We wrote a blog, Sundae Matinee

• We were both cinephiles

• Had a love for noodles

• Telepathy: we spoke to one another with our minds and I would share her thoughts with Ben using what was referred to as a Mother Bates voice.

• We were both vampires of the night proven by our fondness for day time naps/winks and midnight snax

• Time Travel

• All things spooky

• Reading (according to Ben this was a form of napping)

• Treats of all shapes and sizes… just not too hard

She managed to meet a lot of amazing creatures during her stay at the Leonard-Kicks Family castle. The list includes: Charlie Chaplin, Abraham Lincoln, Grandpa Creature, The Invisible Man, Bunny Holly, Draculelvis, Norman Bates, Michael Myers and Charles Lee Ray and his buddy The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

On the day I laid her to rest I had gone back and looked through all the mischief, antics, and fun adventures we got up to. It not only brought me comfort, but gave me appreciation for the time I got to spend with this incredibly magical soul. The time spent with her was never taken for granted and I don’t expect the hole she has left in my heart to ever close. This is the price you pay for experiencing something so sweet. Even if I never have another connection with a fellow animal the way I did with Lil’ Foxie, I feel so lucky that I got to experience it once, and for so long. The time with her was pure magic. RIP precious, I will carry you with me forever.

xo.