Letting Go

Muffin 2000 - 2011

we rescued her over 8 years ago, when she was 3.  she had already made a round of homes and had experiences which left permanent scars.  her defensive demeanor wouldn’t be endearing to many potential owners, but we just loved her more for it and viewed her low growling as “purring”. 

  i was gone a lot, still working full-time and then some, and she and stu bonded like crazy glue.  she worshipped the ground he walked on, lived and breathed to be in his presence and he ate it right up, taking her everywhere in his truck.  when he got caught once by one of those annoying red-light cameras, there was no mistaking him – there was muffin in her usual spot, propped on his lap.

never having had kids, we have freely allowed our dogs to fill that void, completely inhabiting that place in our hearts that needs to nurture.  our conversations at home involve and revolve around our furry friends to probably a ridiculous degree in most folks’ opinions.  oh well.

we have had 4 dogs, all cocker spaniels, because, well, we like them and they are the perfect size and temperament for our traveling and hiking life-style.  each one has been unique, but of the 4, muffin exhibited the most pronounced zest for life.  she had a lot of voices and we didn’t mind triggering those, all in good fun.

so now comes the down-side of all that bonding.  the time to let go.  the time to say good-bye.  the time to realize that our friends are only with us for a limited time – just long enough to teach us the lessons they are bringing.  of course they live on in our hearts, but it is oh, so hard to say that final good-bye.