I loved this! You really captured it for me in this line: “they are the constant reminder of a simplicity in purpose, in joy, in the mindfulness of truly living in each moment.” I get way more excited about puppies than babies…. We had a beautiful, loving, sneaky black lab named Gromit for 13 years and now have a quirky, cat-like Pug named Milo, 4 years old. I wasn’t sure we wanted to be tied down with another but we have never been sorry. Sometimes, after a challenging day at work, I won’t even take my coat off before giving her a hug - and I breathe a little deeply after that.
You hit the mail on the head - they are perfect little Buddhas. Our dog, Madge, brings constant unconditional love and peace to our home. She is a mischief maker as well, and loves cheese more than anyone on this planet.
Reading this was my favorite part of today! I too had a Golden Girl who sounds like your Hobbes. She felt like a soul mate to me. Losing her was one of the worst pains I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve felt crazy for thinking that all these years. I’d be so lucky to have another like her, but I believe each dog (pet) can teach us something.
This was perfect. We recently, in a very tragic accident, lost our parrotlet, Pheobe, who was an incredibly sweet and affectionate bird. It's taken me weeks to even clean out her cage properly (which she almost never used except for eating - she was cuddled in my neck or bugging me to pet her much of the time). Animal families are the best. I offered to get a new parrotlet, but my son put it well "she was such a good bird, and what if we ended up with one who didn't have such a great personality?" We definitely would not want to get a new one with the hopes of replacing the old. We would love a puppy, but live in a small apartment and it would be a bit of a struggle for all involved.
Oh Tyler, this made me weep like I haven't in ages!!! Your words resonate so deeply, because I too had a first dog that was all mine that saved my life...and I still miss her every day, even though she died in 2012. I wrote the following to read when I scattered her ashes and I share because there is nothing quite like the company of an amazing dog:
My beloved Sediba,
Today, June 14th, marks six months since your passing. I've hiked to this spot in your cherished Sangres to scatter your ashes, so you may rest eternally in a place that you loved. It’s with a grieving and grateful heart that I honor your memory and the incredible blessing you were to me! I’ve had six months to mourn your death, feel profound gratitude for how you touched my life, and to miss each and every one of the unique quirks that made you a truly special soul. I miss you every day! And I think about how, I would move heaven and earth for one last hike, romp at the beach, or snow day cuddle by the fireside.
Our paths first crossed at a time when I needed a new direction in my life. You became a ray of sunshine and hope, and you helped me see how making different choices would serve my life better: in short, you saved me! It was through your sweet, gentle, and loyal presence that I found the healing gift of focusing my attention on something other than myself. I could not have asked for a more faithful and tireless companion. You endured countless road trips, hours spent waiting in the car for me, moves to five different states, being my only friend when we were somewhere new, and even a six-month separation when I went abroad to volunteer. How very lucky I was to be granted your guardianship!
I lie awake at night and think I can hear you sloshing the water in your bowl while you drink. It’s a sound that I grew so accustomed to at bedtime, my imagination reminds me that you have been here and etched your habits into my memory and heart. I miss the heavy sighs, as you rested your head on the windowsill during rainy days when there would be no outside playtime; and the way you’d look back at me with imploring eyes, as if I could control the weather. I miss the way you’d sit in the kitchen, shamelessly and repeatedly pointing your nose at your treat jar when you were feeling entitled. I miss your crazy misperception about your size and the way you would climb into my lap to comfort me when I was sad. I miss the early morning bedside nudges when I was trying to sleep in and you were ready for a hike. I miss the muffled barking and feet twitching while you slept, knowing you were off in dreamland chasing rabbits and running free. I miss the way you’d strut a little taller after someone had admired your beauty while we were out and about. I miss the regal poise of your elegant stride and the silly way you’d cock your head to the left and perk your ears when you thought I had something important to share. I miss the way you’d endlessly clench down on your mouse toy, making squeaking sounds next to my desk in an attempt to get me to play. I miss seeing you lounging around in the back garden, belly exposed, sunbathing. I miss your wet nose poking out from the car window while you patiently waited for me to return from whatever errands we were running. I miss the long, full day hikes to our favorite alpine lakes and the exhausted reverie that you’d fall into when we reached the car. I even miss the trips to the vet, when you were so anxious you’d try to become a scarf around my neck, subsequently covering me in fur and slobber. You were truly an original my beautiful Deebs! But more than anything, I miss those incredibly gorgeous, rich brown eyes and your sweet, serene energy filling the house.
You enriched my life beyond measure and although I know I will love another one day when I’m ready, you will always be with me, because you were an incomparable friend and my first true love! I hope that your soul is at peace and that perhaps one day our paths will cross again. In gratitude and love from the depths of my being, I return what remains of your body to the earth from which it sprang…forever in my heart, my precious girl!
Thank you for sharing this. I am not the biggest dog lover. I think I like the idea of it, but I've never really gotten to where others seem to be with their love of dogs. For me it is not just dogs, though. I am not really a pet person. Our current dog tends to put up with me, while showering my wife with love and affection. I think the one dog that I was the closest to what our long-haired dachshund. We seemed to have a bond, but truthfully he still favored my wife.
You sharing this has helped me see what my wife, and three daughters must feel. Thanks again.
I loved this! You really captured it for me in this line: “they are the constant reminder of a simplicity in purpose, in joy, in the mindfulness of truly living in each moment.” I get way more excited about puppies than babies…. We had a beautiful, loving, sneaky black lab named Gromit for 13 years and now have a quirky, cat-like Pug named Milo, 4 years old. I wasn’t sure we wanted to be tied down with another but we have never been sorry. Sometimes, after a challenging day at work, I won’t even take my coat off before giving her a hug - and I breathe a little deeply after that.
You hit the mail on the head - they are perfect little Buddhas. Our dog, Madge, brings constant unconditional love and peace to our home. She is a mischief maker as well, and loves cheese more than anyone on this planet.
Thank you 🙏
Reading this was my favorite part of today! I too had a Golden Girl who sounds like your Hobbes. She felt like a soul mate to me. Losing her was one of the worst pains I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve felt crazy for thinking that all these years. I’d be so lucky to have another like her, but I believe each dog (pet) can teach us something.
You had me giggling at the start, while I was at work This is the sweetest essay, as I looked a snoring dog under my desk.
You had me giggling at the start, while I was at work This is the sweetest essay, as I looked a snoring dog under my desk.
This was perfect. We recently, in a very tragic accident, lost our parrotlet, Pheobe, who was an incredibly sweet and affectionate bird. It's taken me weeks to even clean out her cage properly (which she almost never used except for eating - she was cuddled in my neck or bugging me to pet her much of the time). Animal families are the best. I offered to get a new parrotlet, but my son put it well "she was such a good bird, and what if we ended up with one who didn't have such a great personality?" We definitely would not want to get a new one with the hopes of replacing the old. We would love a puppy, but live in a small apartment and it would be a bit of a struggle for all involved.
Oh Tyler, this made me weep like I haven't in ages!!! Your words resonate so deeply, because I too had a first dog that was all mine that saved my life...and I still miss her every day, even though she died in 2012. I wrote the following to read when I scattered her ashes and I share because there is nothing quite like the company of an amazing dog:
My beloved Sediba,
Today, June 14th, marks six months since your passing. I've hiked to this spot in your cherished Sangres to scatter your ashes, so you may rest eternally in a place that you loved. It’s with a grieving and grateful heart that I honor your memory and the incredible blessing you were to me! I’ve had six months to mourn your death, feel profound gratitude for how you touched my life, and to miss each and every one of the unique quirks that made you a truly special soul. I miss you every day! And I think about how, I would move heaven and earth for one last hike, romp at the beach, or snow day cuddle by the fireside.
Our paths first crossed at a time when I needed a new direction in my life. You became a ray of sunshine and hope, and you helped me see how making different choices would serve my life better: in short, you saved me! It was through your sweet, gentle, and loyal presence that I found the healing gift of focusing my attention on something other than myself. I could not have asked for a more faithful and tireless companion. You endured countless road trips, hours spent waiting in the car for me, moves to five different states, being my only friend when we were somewhere new, and even a six-month separation when I went abroad to volunteer. How very lucky I was to be granted your guardianship!
I lie awake at night and think I can hear you sloshing the water in your bowl while you drink. It’s a sound that I grew so accustomed to at bedtime, my imagination reminds me that you have been here and etched your habits into my memory and heart. I miss the heavy sighs, as you rested your head on the windowsill during rainy days when there would be no outside playtime; and the way you’d look back at me with imploring eyes, as if I could control the weather. I miss the way you’d sit in the kitchen, shamelessly and repeatedly pointing your nose at your treat jar when you were feeling entitled. I miss your crazy misperception about your size and the way you would climb into my lap to comfort me when I was sad. I miss the early morning bedside nudges when I was trying to sleep in and you were ready for a hike. I miss the muffled barking and feet twitching while you slept, knowing you were off in dreamland chasing rabbits and running free. I miss the way you’d strut a little taller after someone had admired your beauty while we were out and about. I miss the regal poise of your elegant stride and the silly way you’d cock your head to the left and perk your ears when you thought I had something important to share. I miss the way you’d endlessly clench down on your mouse toy, making squeaking sounds next to my desk in an attempt to get me to play. I miss seeing you lounging around in the back garden, belly exposed, sunbathing. I miss your wet nose poking out from the car window while you patiently waited for me to return from whatever errands we were running. I miss the long, full day hikes to our favorite alpine lakes and the exhausted reverie that you’d fall into when we reached the car. I even miss the trips to the vet, when you were so anxious you’d try to become a scarf around my neck, subsequently covering me in fur and slobber. You were truly an original my beautiful Deebs! But more than anything, I miss those incredibly gorgeous, rich brown eyes and your sweet, serene energy filling the house.
You enriched my life beyond measure and although I know I will love another one day when I’m ready, you will always be with me, because you were an incomparable friend and my first true love! I hope that your soul is at peace and that perhaps one day our paths will cross again. In gratitude and love from the depths of my being, I return what remains of your body to the earth from which it sprang…forever in my heart, my precious girl!
Thank you for sharing this. I am not the biggest dog lover. I think I like the idea of it, but I've never really gotten to where others seem to be with their love of dogs. For me it is not just dogs, though. I am not really a pet person. Our current dog tends to put up with me, while showering my wife with love and affection. I think the one dog that I was the closest to what our long-haired dachshund. We seemed to have a bond, but truthfully he still favored my wife.
You sharing this has helped me see what my wife, and three daughters must feel. Thanks again.
Oh my….. no dry eyes here…. So many memories