What Makes You Happy?

Today I want to share Jim and my journey of 23 years with the dogs we have loved and the joys and sorrows with this. It has been an incredible time with so much joy, laughter and unconditional love.

I know many of you have experienced this as well, and I hope that my journey helps you with yours.

On 11/11/14 on my Ezine archive, you will find the 5 Stages of Grief. I would not have missed this for the world and give thanks to all of our beautiful dogs. I envision them all getting together in doggy heaven running freely.

My Niece gifted me a platform called Story Worth where I write a story every week. After a year this gets made into a book. It is a story of my life and this particular chapter in it was one of the most profound for me.

Thank you for allowing me back into your lives.

Stay safe everyone.

There is one thing that has always made me happy.

What is that you ask? It is our beloved dogs.

Jim and I in our 23 years together have had 5 dogs which have enriched our lives so much. When I met Jim he had a year-old keeshond named Magic. I had an older dog named Alex who, shortly after we met, had to be put down. He had been my children’s dog so that was a difficult time. In March the next year, I met Dana who was a lab & golden mix. She was about one year old and she and Magic became quite the team. Dana always made me laugh at her antics. She would be talking at you as she walked into a wall. She was so proud of herself when she was able to open the outside door to Jim’s home. She looked like she had a grin on her face. We tried to teach Magic to close the door, but he was having none of it. Magic would lead you to what he wanted whether it be a cookie or bone etc. He did not like Jim spending too much time on the computer. He would pointedly look at the cookie jar behind him.

Dana one day at my home was out in the backyard. I had recently planted a small crab apple tree. When I looked out there was no tree!! Then I saw it. Dana had the tree in her mouth and was running joyfully around the yard. She actually did me a service as when I planted the tree I was supposed to loosen around the roots. Dana did that for me in spades. That tree really grew well.

Throughout our years with Dana and Magic, Jim & I purchased a house together with a big backyard. These two loved to chase squirrels and birds that dared to land on our lawn. We would take them up to my parents’ cottage where they both loved to swim in the waters of Georgian Bay. It didn’t seem to matter if the lake was starting to freeze over. Dana would just immerse her whole body in it.

Magic became ill with stomach cancer diagnosed through an ultrasound. He was 11 when we let him rest. Dana was devastated. She sat on the couch looking out the window for him to return. She did not eat for 3 days. Jim and I decided to get a mini schnauzer puppy named Kaylee. She was 4 pounds and was in a laundry basket. Dana’s big head gazed down at this little puppy. She became animated again. When THAT puppy ate her food, she started to eat again. Before you knew it they were cuddled up together. Five months later we got another mini schnauzer puppy we named River. We got such a look from Dana that we deemed to bring another puppy into her world. In spite of this, she was an amazing Mom to these two. She watched over them as they navigated steps. Difficult at first and then they would run full tilt down them. River had what we called boo-boo eyes with long lashes. She couldn’t make it onto the bed so would flash these eyes at you so you would do her bidding. The pups and Dana would chase each other around the house. They would line up on the back of the couch to watch out for those squirrels, or any dog that deemed to walk on their street. Dana accepted both pups and was often seen curled up with them.

About two years after the pups arrived Dana got sick and she went on her final journey to be with her love Magic. She was 13. She had been a girl that helped me through a tough time when I had been injured by a client at work. She made me feel safe. She always followed me around to make this so. She was a girl that every person loved. She was so tolerant of our first Grandbaby too.

My friend Karen passed away and Jim and I inherited her dog Freckles. Freckles was a joy to us but Kaylee and River tormented her mercilessly. After quite a long time they finally accepted her.

These 3 so made me laugh all the time. Their personalities were quite unique. Kaylee always took charge and would be a bit bossy. River would hide a lot from those two. She loved to be in the backyard on her own. Freckles just tried to fit in. Sometimes she would make the same noises and sounds as a mini schnauzer. She was a white-furred girl with brown spots, hence the name Freckles.

All 3 of our girls would go camping with us in our RV. They loved going for walks and they slept together on the pullout couch. There was a ledge leading into our bedroom area. In the mornings we would often see one or 3 little heads staring at us to wake up! Freckles would always let you know when it was dinner time or indeed cookie time after their last out for the night. If you did not heed her she would ratchet up the volume and start to do a circle dance. She wasn’t appreciative of our laughter.

Kaylee made it until she was almost 10 years old. Freckles made it to 14 years. Each passing left such a hole in our hearts. We experienced so much joy and laughter with all our dogs. They enriched our lives so much. The joy you felt when they greeted you at the door as if you had been gone for weeks. You may have only stepped out for a few minutes! They made you feel special and so loved.

On April 19th, just a bit over 3 months since we lost Freckles on December 31st River got very sick. Blood work revealed that there was nothing we could do to help her so we let her join her family of Dana, Kaylee and Freckles over the rainbow bridge. I am sure they will meet Magic there as well. Those 3 months of River being on her own were magical. She finally found her voice and would bark to go out or in or just because she wanted to see if you would come to her. She piled her toys up on the couch and made sure that the pillows were to her liking.

Her personality was amazing as she tore around the house. We were so glad she had a chance to revel in all the attention. She no longer would hide all the time. She was delightful to watch. She would have a bark fest with Einstein her mini schnauzer boyfriend next door. She loved that boy and would bark to get his attention. He would call her out to play with his bark and then while she barked at him, he would ignore her! She also loved to play with the two dogs behind us. You would often catch her just sitting and watching the world in her yard. Unfortunately, Einstein followed River over the rainbow bridge on April 20th. I am sure she was waiting for him. As much it is painful when they leave us, they fill us up with love, fun and laughter over the years. We would not have missed it for the world. Our lives were so much richer because of them and I am grateful for every moment we shared. Where else can you find someone who will love you so unconditionally?

I will treasure every memory and the joy they gave Jim and I. Every Christmas I will celebrate them anew and be grateful for our time together.