LICKED CLEAN
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Long-time readers may recall my golden retriever, Gusta.
The other day, Monday, June 7th, was the 2nd anniversary of her death.
I recall, as clearly as if it was yesterday. I took her out for her morning walk. Her failing unsteady frail frame and wobbly legs collapsed. I carried her inside, comforted her and left her to rest and eat her breakfast. Then, I went to an early meeting. I returned mid-morning and stayed with her through the day. She eased into sleep and died early that afternoon.
I’m not sure what I’m feeling now in terms of describing my emotions. More smiles than tears, not the sadness of a dog’s advancing age and failing body, but remembering the joyous puppy-hood, the loyalty, and the companionship. I miss that.
We never quarreled, yet we both always got our way – a dynamic I’ve never achieved in any other relationship. I miss those 14 years I had. I’ll never forget fourteen years of daily walks – some efforts and tremendous enjoyment that comes with owning and caring for a pet; any chore, cost, or inconvenience far outweighed by the joys she brought me. And laughter – at funny things that happened. There were so many of those.
One of the best memories, when she was about three months old – it was about supper time on a Sunday; I’d just plated my meal – a juicy T-bone steak and a heaping plate of veggies smothered in mushroom gravy, it was truly a decadent meal. The office phone rang, so I set my plate on the coffee table. I expected I’d be back in moments to eat my steaming food. But that call took a couple of minutes longer than I expected. I returned to a well-licked empty plate on that coffee table and later found well cleaned T-bone in Gusta’s kennel …
An important lesson we teach our children, in showing them how to love and care for pets, is the learning to lose them process and grieving that loss. Kids learn that important lesson easily, I think.
As we get older, this lesson takes on greater complexity. We lose friends and colleagues, and four-legged loved ones too.
Part loss and part gain, we see more, feel more, and its lasts longer.