Madison...

It is a very sad day here at Buffalo Stamps and Stuff. Our beloved store mascot, Maddie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. Our sweet little girl was 13 years old and was a friendly fixture here at the store. When the bells on the door would ring she would look up, see who it was and trot down the main aisle to say hello. She would give you a good looking at, maybe a little sniff to make sure you were OK to come into her store and trot back to where ever Sharon was working to sit by her. 

Customers would wonder who belonged to the ping pong and tennis balls they would find in most nooks and crannies in the store and children would be encouraged to gently roll the balls down the aisle for Maddie to chase.

For all of us who work at the store and for many of our regular customers, Maddie showed no shame in coming up to you whether you were standing at the register or sitting at one of the tables in the back and gently pawing your leg. This meant - feed me! She was asking for a treat. I was one of the worst offenders. I'd put a small handful of her favorite treats in my pocket and she would follow me around the store and tap my leg repeatedly until I gave her a treat (or until Sharon caught me and stopped me!) Even our guest artists, the mailman (who gave her a treat most days) and the UPS and FedEx guys knew Maddie and how to get on her good side.

She was a little put out when Jessica and Scott got their dog, Ava. Maddie was head dog, queen of the store and when that little puppy made one of her first appearances Maddie was not quite sure what to do with her. Ava wanted to play, Maddie was suspicious. I remember we had an event at the Dots store and Maddie would look at Ava prancing around like, "Wait, I'm the head dog around here. Who is this interloper?" Maddie did come to tolerate and even like Ava but it was fun watching the interaction between the two.



Mark encouraging Maddie to check out the big mailbox Sharon found at a barn sale.      



We knew age was beginning to catch up to her this past summer but she still came to the store every day to do what she felt was her job - watch out for the store and more importantly, watch out for Sharon. Even at 13 she followed Sharon around like a puppy. Everyone who works at the store and our extended family of customers will miss our little blonde girl. Sweet dreams dear Madison...