Moving On

Warning! Tissue alert!

I have been blessed. Truly blessed. There have been many dogs in my life, and three of them have been "that dog."

Caleb. March 1980-August 1989

Caleb was the first of those three. He was a puppy in the Humane Society shelter in 1980. I had just gotten my first apartment and wanted a "protector" dog as I lived alone in the not-so-nice part of town. A collie-shepherd mix, he had contracted distemper in the shelter, and I nursed him back to health. He was my best bud as I navigated things like my first job, marrying my dear husband, and giving birth to my first two children. He was my comfort when I suffered my first two miscarriages, and my joy in everyday life.

It was when I lost Caleb that I realized I was one of those people with a dog-shaped pocket in the corner of my heart. His sudden loss was heart-wrenching.

Connor. March 1999 - July 2012
He never did understand the camera.

Ten years and a couple dogs later, the next one of those dogs came into my life. He fit perfectly into that dog-shaped pocket from the first time I saw him at the Humane Society. When I went back to pick him up the next day, he was as happy to see me as I was to see him. He was a Border Collie, and as smart and wonderful as any of his breed. When I sat on the floor, he would put his front paws on my shoulders and "talk" to me, his nose next to my ear. He understood almost everything I said. When we had to put him down - old and worn from battling hip displaysia - I grieved for a month. Or more. 

Thatcher. March 2013-May 2019

You all know the third of those dogs. He was part of life here at the Cafe from the time he was born.

In the middle of a dead snake derp-fest. The smell
astounded him!

When Thatcher died, I went through a week of "I can't do this again. I'll never get another dog." And a few more weeks of getting teary eyed whenever I was reminded of him. I still get teary-eyed. Life without him is quiet. Empty.

Maggie and Thatcher in the "big dog" bed.

We're in a season of change right now. Losing both Wynter and Thatcher has been tough. That dog-shaped pocket in the corner of my heart feels awfully hollow right now.

At the same time, we're in the middle of moving, and our children are flinging themselves hither and yon (all right, we do have two that are still in town!), and we're making decisions about what furniture to move, which plants to move, etc. etc.

A big season of change. But it's time to put the past in the past and look toward the future.

Good-bye Thatcher. I'll never forget you. You were my BFF -  my best furry friend. I'm sorry you never got to go on turkey patrol at our new home.

But looking forward and moving on...perhaps in a few months...

Pearl's puppies. Photo credit: Tammy Roberson

Maybe one of these little ones will take their place in that dog-shaped pocket.

Could I be so blessed?

By the way, four of these cuties are still available. They were born on June 6th. If you're interested in adding one to your family, I'll put you in contact with their breeder.

Jan Drexler spent her childhood dreaming of living in the Wild West and is now thrilled to call the Black Hills of South Dakota her home. When she isn’t writing she spends much of her time satisfying her cross-stitch addiction or hiking and enjoying the Black Hills with her husband of more than thirty-six years.