Jake the Golden Dog – Memorial
The rising sun highlights the heavy laden clouds moving slowly across the crystal blue Texas sky. I still mourn. On November 5th, Jake died. It’s been three weeks now. I know I have to talk to him. It’s been hard, Jake, to think about all these years we’ve been together. I often wondered what your life had been like before you showed up one morning on my porch when you were about eight months old. Your double coat was soft as silk, and I worried you belonged in the city, not on a ranch. Your big brown eyes begged to stay. Why did you refuse to get in a vehicle when we needed to take you to the vet for your shots? You and I took up the whole backseat with you wrapped in a blanket! Your skin was so soft, I could never use clippers to cut the...
Thankful for Family
When I was growing up in a large family, it felt comfortable and exactly where I needed to be. It was a safe home, never lonely. One baby after another just as precious and loved. Tots to enjoy, schoolers to teach and watch grow. With no two exactly alike, the variations strengthened our family – there was one of us available that could handle about any situation! Thanksgiving Day together means everything to me. I look at my sister and brothers and see all the hidden faces and words of youth behind their eyes. There’s nobody in this world luckier than me. Being the oldest, I’ve watched them grow up, make their decisions, find their careers, commitments and responsibilities. During Christmas we each research the occasion for our own specific...
My dog chicken-sits …
After old Jake died this month (I still can’t talk about it much), little Cotton has been lost and lonely. He clings to us for attention and doesn’t want to be alone. I knew, with his love of being outdoors, this poor-pity-me would not last very long. He started getting excited about going out in the mornings with me to feed the critters. He would sit on the cart watching me let the chickens out of their house, feeding them and cleaning their water pan. One morning I didn’t have to go anywhere, so I had time to stay out there for a while. I decided to leave the yard gate open. As the chickens filed outside, pecking the grass and moving away, Cotton became concerned. He jumped out of the cart, and keeping his distance, he tried to herd them back...
When someone dies…
A woman died Sunday. Her name was Alice. I want the world to know. Mature, but younger than I, she was taking care of a veteran – not because she was paid, but because he was her friend. No, she was not rich – worked two part-time jobs – never married, no children. Was her life easy with no challenges? No, it never was. But, she found a special gift in her heart of compassion and friendship. She preferred to live independently. I respected her. So, who cares that in the process, she fell from a massive heart attack. With no money, no savings, no insurance, she died within hours at the hospital. Was she my friend? No, not really – so, why did I cry when I heard the news today? ShareEmailFacebook
