Obituaries: Magick 1998 – 2008

A constant companion since before we began this web site back in January, 2000, Magick passed away on Thursday, June 5. She will be forever missed.

Magick, the Chief Executive Companion at AlternativeApproaches.com, died quietly on Thursday, June 5th, evidently of an illness common to her breed. At the time of her passing, she was about a month shy of her tenth birthday, which means that she was approximately 70 years old in human terms. She became ill late Tuesday evening and died just hours after visiting her veterinarian in Pilot Mountain, NC.

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Magick, at home in her back yard - June, 2001.

Although Magick was born in Winston-Salem, she spent all but the first four weeks of her life in rural Shoals, NC, after arranging a deal with Christine Hall and Ann Clemens to be her human caretakers. During the first half of her life, she spent much of her time roaming the woods behind her house, catching rabbits, finding bones and cataloging scents. The second half of her life was marked by long naps and much digging in the back yard. During this period, she became something of a gourmand, enjoying gravies that she would have prepared for her by her caretakers.

Her most important work, however, was in being a companion and friend to the staff of AlternativeApproaches.com. From January, 2000 until June, 2004, when the site was located in her home, she was present for every major decision made by the web site's staff and management, and could always be counted upon to lend positive moral support to any project

“The best thing about her was that she was a good listener,” said Christine Hall, the web site's editor. “She was a great sounding board. “

During this time, she was also a featured part of the fledgling site's monthly newsletter. According to Hall, it was also during this period that she proved to have great talents as a teacher and negotiator.

“She taught me that no matter how great of a human being I may be, I will never be even a tenth of the dog that she was,” said Hall, “even though she did teach me many of the hidden secrets of dogie ways.”

In 2004, when AlternativeApproaches.com moved to a location in nearby Winston-Salem, Magick stayed behind in Shoals, while retaining her position as Chief Executive Companion at AlternativeApproaches.com. From this point until her death, she performed her duties before and after hours, sending both the Editor and Business Manager off to work every morning and greeting them every evening when they returned from work.

The web site has no plans to obtain another Chief Executive Companion at this time. “She was too perfect at what she did,” explained Hall. “No one could mark her territory and successfully make it theirs.”

Magick is survived by her two human caretakers who say that she will be “forever loved and never forgotten.”

©Copyright 2008 by AlternativeApproaches.com