Single Blog

I’ve been off the grid for awhile. That’s what happens sometimes when you have a loss. I’ve had one. And, it’s kinda’ rocked my world. If you have a pet, you know that life is made so much better because of that fur baby! My sweet little dog Buddy made my life better in so many ways. From the moment he put his tiny paws on my chest and looked straight into my eyes as an 8-week old puppy, to the last moment I saw him when he put his still-tiny paws on my chest and looked up at me as an 11-year-old “senior,” we were almost two hearts beating as one. 

Buddy was my shadow. He followed me everywhere. He sat on a blanket in my office. He sat in a “doggy bag” when I sneaked him into university classes. He sat in front of the living room window watching for my return when I ran errands. He pretended to be a stuffed animal in the buggy when I sneaked him into Target. He took naps with me on the couch. He sat on my lap during road trips. 

He knew the teller at the bank drive-through has treats. He knew Starbucks serves “puppucinos.” He slept on my pillow. Okay. It was his pillow that he let me share. He licked the tears off my face when I was sad. He licked my nose when he was happy! He snuggled up to his “sisters” (my daughters) because he loved them unconditionally! He snuggled up to people who were hurting because he loved with abandon. He was what my daughters and I called a “comfort dog.” He was our “buddy.”

And, so, here I am. 3 weeks later. Still waiting for his paws to skitter across the hardwood floor as he races toward me to say “Hey, Mom! Where’ve you been?” Still waiting for him to dash up the doggy stairs by the bed and onto “my” pillow. Still waiting for him to wake me up at 5 a.m. for breakfast and a walk. Still waiting for him to dig a toy from his basket and drop it at my feet. Still waiting for him to crawl up on my lap, put his paws on my chest, and turn those big brown eyes up to stare at me in absolute pure puppy love. Still waiting.

Loss is hard. Whether it’s loss of a pet’s life or loss of a human life. The loss is real. It leaves a hole that cannot be filled. But, with God’s grace, and perhaps with time, it can become less painful. We can stop asking the “what if?” questions. We can put away or pass along the beds, toys, sweaters, and other items that belonged to them. We can learn to remember and cherish what was wonderful about them. We can look forward to seeing them again. Yes, I believe “all dogs (and other pets) go to Heaven.” And, we can smile because of the time we had with them.