A loving tribute to the most amazing boy in the world.
Loyal, intelligent, mischevious, and incredibly special, Winston Theodore Norweg passed away peacefully at home on Friday, December 8, 2023. He was eight years old. Winnie fought a brief but brave battle with cancer, remaining loving and sweet until the very end.
I knew this would be the hardest goodbye, but my grief has been overwhelming and all-consuming. I wrote a full obituary for my Winnie, an idea I got after reading Dr. Karen Fine's book, The Other Family Doctor (2023) last month. I decided to send the obituary, which was deeply personal, only to close friends and family. I would also like to honor my beautiful boy publicly, especially given how deeply supportive our Scottish terrier social media community has been over the last several days.
I hope you'll join me in relishing the memories of my incredible little Win. He was extraordinary.
FAVORITES
Foods
Popcorn
Steak (medium-rare, especially a nice, marbled sirloin)
Mashed potatoes
Raw baby carrots (the crunchier the better)
Sliced watermelon
Deli turkey
Cheez-Its
Popcorn was Winston's all-time favorite food
Toys
"Puppy ball" (the Kong Jumbler)
Mr. Bear (a huge stuffed bear)
Chuck-it balls
Mr. Rope (a big twisted rope that he would grab with his paws)
"Santa Belly" (a stuffed Santa with a pink ball inside)
Winston as a puppy with Mr. Bear (picture courtesy of my sister, Sarah)
Things to Do
Tug-of-war
Fetch
Sunday roast (especially at Smiths Arms, Guy Fawkes Inn, and Cow and Calf)
Pub walks
Going to the beach
Popcorn and movie night
Walks with Naomi and his friends
Naps on the couch or in his brown chair
Win enjoys a Sunday roast at Cow and Calf
This chair was Win's favorite place
Music
Motown/Marvin Gaye
Bob Marley & the Wailers
Classical
TRAVEL
Win came with me absolutely everywhere, and we made the quick trip from DC to Boston (and back) frequently
Countries Visited:
England
France
Scotland
United States
Wales
I used Google Maps to pin all the places Winnie has visited and lived, both in the US and Europe.
UK Landmarks Visited
Aira Force
Aysgarth Falls
Bath’s Circus and Royal Crescent
Ben A’an
Big Ben
Brimham Rocks
Buckingham Palace
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Dunnottar Castle
Durdle Door
Easby Abbey
Fountains Abbey
Grasmere Lake
Loch Lomond
London Eye
Malham Cove
Mam Tor
Oxford University
Ripley Castle
Snowdon
Spofforth Castle
Tintagel Castle
Tower Bridge
Tower of London
Ullswater Lake
Westminster Abbey
Whitby Abbey
York Minster
US Landmarks Visited:
Boston Public Garden
Castle Island
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
Gettysburg
Lincoln Memorial
Manassas
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Old North Bridge
The White House
Washington Monument
PERSONALITY AND FUN FACTS
Winnie sat like a little man in the car, sitting up with one arm on the armrest, looking out the window
"Circus boy" was Win's signature move whenever he wanted to convince someone to feed him or play with him
Winston refused to drink from communal bowls and hated getting dirty--he would avoid mud and streams and the like at all costs
Win snored loudly, could give serious side eye, and had the most impressive head tilts
Winnie had two microchips and a birthmark inside his right ear
Winnie doing his "circus boy" pose
A love like I've never known--how fortunate I was. I will miss him for the rest of my life.