New Life
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(I know. I know. I promised to regale you with the juicy details of my Thursday night and I will soon. But even Dave Matthews (and Tom Brokaw and Jimmy Fallon and Eliot Spitzer!) can’t compete with this little guy. So, first things first.)
Once upon a time, there was a woman. A mother of of five. A wife of one. A grandmother of many. An avid reader. A busy and beautiful person warmed by the gravitas of a very full life. One crisp October day, everything changed for this woman. There was some news, cryptic and devastating that life was not guaranteed. There were numbers, statistics, that were grim. And time passed because that’s what it does. Cruelly, the seasons changed. Slowly and yet way too fast. And then it was summer. And in July, the end was near. And this woman was aware of the end, but not ready. Never ready.
And then it happened and everything was different. A part of her was gone. But with time, through the gray, she could glimpse flickers of life, past, present and future. The return of laughter. From her children and herself. The smile of a baby. The wag of a tail. The cozy purrs. And then another loss. More cancer. This time taking the life of an old and loyal dog. Another void. Another reminder.
And then this woman remembered what her husband had once said. That he had the energy for one more. One more lab. And so. She made it happen. To honor him. To honor the past, the blaze of memories. She traveled, this time alone, to pick up new life. She brought him home. To a place he’d never been, but wholly belonged. Into the folds of her life. And she gave him a great name. One in honor of her man’s old friend and her family’s favorite oak tree. Where an old tire swing still hangs from old rope, tortured and tattered. A swing no longer used. And around this little guy, this tiny reminder with big paws, her children and their children and her pets flocked. A family welcome.
Welcome, little guy. We love you already. Take good care of her, okay?
Cute little chap. Bittersweet but beautifully written too.
Oh, what courage it takes to embrace life in the midst of the awareness of loss. And what a gorgeous little guy.
What a beautiful little puppy! This is such a sweet piece overall, and I do think that a new little life can breathe new vibrancy and happiness into someone who has been through a lot of loss — it forces you to remember that not all the good was in the past, but there’s plenty now too even though it can be hard to see.
Why you gotta go and make me cry every time I read your blog? So precious and picture well painted. Puppies and family. What’s better than that? I love that this trumped Dave Matthews, etc. Brilliant.
What a beautiful little pup! And bravo for that courage. I admire it, but am not capable of it. (We lost our family dog last month. I cannot do it again.)
well hello there little friend!
A beautiful tribute to moving forward in life after terrible and unfathomable loss. Enjoy the newest addition to the family! Does “Granddog” have a name or am I violating the ILI anonymity rules
?
PS: Great posts the past week, wish I could have commented (I did in my head
!)but a bit too crazed now that we are underway here.
He’s just plain perfection. Edible puppiness!
Lovely post.
What beautiful enduring post! I understand how something like this pup could bring renewed life.
Pickles my working dog did the same for me. It was through her I learned to embrace my deafness.
What a cute little guy. Makes you want to pick him up and hold him close. I’m confident he’ll take care of his new owner and she will find all the joys possible from such a wonderful friendship. (Hugs)Indigo
The poetic description of how that dog entered into the family is captivating. He is darling and I imagine will take care of that very special woman.
Oh, he is the cutest little thing! I love chocolate labs. Beautiful; I’ve grown up with dogs and as much as losing them hurts like hell, I can’t imagine not having one around.
I think that little fella is going to bring a lot of love and joy…just looking at his buttery-soft ears made me smile.
What a heartfelt post.
This puppy is the cutest…great piece today
Puppy.
No words needed to describe.
Cheers to your mama.
And the little fellow for finding a perfect home.
And to you, Aidan.
I feel your hurt.
I know it.
It is not far away.
Ever.
One last thing.
We put our old girl down two weeks ago.
We have started dreaming of little lab puppies.
Six months or less, we have said.
Christmas, I say.
Thanks for the picture.
Puppy.
I have tears in my eyes. So perfectly written. I am a huge believer that puppies can bring immediate happiness and warmth to a family, even (or especially) one enduring sorrow. On my saddest days, my dog’s head in my lap (because she KNOWS) is all I need to bring cheer.
So well written.
It must be true.
Happiness is a warm puppy.
-R.