What I Imagine Them Saying

Trinie, our five and half month old bundle of Love

I don’t how I got so lucky to be surrounded by such a loving community? The texts, emails, cards, even a most beautiful wind chime in honor of Zuke, have come trickling in. Each holding such a sweet place in my heart. Mahalo Nui Loa dear ones. (This post was created a bit ago, as Zuke went onto his next adventure last November. Thus I am keeping it just as it was originally written, and of course adding in our newest four 'legger.')

This has been a time of reflecting for me. I had the strongest sense in a recent meditation of all our beloved dogs meeting up with one another, some perhaps for the first time, and others not. Each conferring with one another as to the season they landed within our lives, and how it was never a random act, yet divinely led. I believe this fully, and you could never convince me otherwise. I wasn’t privy to what they were speaking of, yet I’m doing some intuiting and imagining of how it might have gone.

Brandi, an adorable yellow lab puppy came to us in 1980, just months before we married. She came along on our honeymoon camping in Glacier National Park, and was the best fishing partner imaginable. She was our “kid” for three years before Douglas, came on the scene, and went gray overnight with his birth. I think she knew her job of protector would be needed, and she insisted on sleeping outside his door. Brandi was also on the scene when Sarah arrived less than two years later. I believe she relayed to our other dogs that she fulfilled her purpose by being such a great family pup, and that she wiggled her way into all our family vacations. Very proud she was of telling the others, “They took me everywhere!”

Sasha, part chow, lab, stole our hearts one Sunday, at PetsMart. She was there with Friends of Animals, and was sitting in a little basket. Already five months, she was the most chilled pup there was. Sasha’s purpose was to show how comfortable a pup can be in her own skin. She rolled with life and everyone was her friend. We didn’t have to train, do anything really, she came with all her batteries installed and she had read the book.

Next came Ringo. A hound dog dumped in our neighborhood on a frigid November night. No tags, or chip, and he has been abused. No matter how we tried to love him, he was a runner, and the only time he was in his element was when we camped, he’d be able to roam free, and was a natural tracker. He allowed us to only love him on his terms, and we spent a lot of money trying to rig ways to keep him in our yard. Ringo taught us that sometimes abuse runs so deep, that no matter who comes next, those seeds have been planted, and he could become unpredictable. We called him our hair shirt, and indeed he often was.

Sadie, part black lab and German shepherd was also a Friends of Animals dog. She was a year old, and had been in three homes before ours. Each time taken back because of destroying the houses. Her foster parents were so hoping she would acclimate with Sasha, and she did. Best pals ever, yet Sadie did not listen. Truly a scary quality for her not to have, and no matter what we tried, read about etc., she had selective hearing. We wondered if that bonding part of her was not allowed to develop with so many homes in her formative first months? Sadie demonstrated what happens when listening is not fine tuned, and we made great strides with her, yet it was challenging. Not her natural go to at all.

Sarah brought home Jordan, a medium size terrier mix at about six weeks of age. She was on the back of a flat bed trailer out in the middle of the desert. Jordan, our fun loving girl, who ran fast as the wind, sometimes had a little too much to say, with her barking, yet showed us what a carrot a day might mean in terms of longevity. We could never prove it, yet wondered, and she lived to be fifteen years of age.

Then there was our Zuke, whom the others reminded me had an entire blog post written about him. He simply was our soul pup. Not one challenging quality did he possess, and that is a first for us. He came in with a job, I was it. My Velcro pal, and totally devoted. I can’t help but wonder if Douglas had his hand in this? Desiring his mom to experience what it felt like to have a little being BE so completely devoted, and myopic in his world view. It was always me.

And now we have Trinie. She had her first puppy training class yesterday and will be ready for 'Westminster' soon. Our unexpected treasure. She is keeping us very present minded.

I’m not sure if as humans we are deserving of the love of these miraculous animals, yet that is what they give us. Each of these dogs, chatting it up, filling one another in, and each bringing us exactly what we needed in a particular season of life, often before we were aware. A deep bow, beloved ones, tummy and butt rubs, endless expanses to roam, lots of delicious treats, and I hope you gather to greet us, when it’s time. To be honest, I look forward to seeing each of you first, the humans may have to wait a red hot second!