Our family mascot, "Puppy" aka Tayles, gave up the ghost a week ago today, the day after Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for having had him in our lives. He was a faithful companion and tolerant of being dressed up, cuddled and held like a baby, and was the subject of many a fictional tale about his wild night life with friends of a certain persuasion, Jeff and Ken. We made him larger than life and life without him now seems so dark.
Puppy was a nervous spaniel mix dog of 3 or 4 when we rescued him from a cage at the local animal shelter about 5 years ago. Upon driving him home the very first time, I remember Puppy's refusal to meet my gaze. I realized then that he'd probably been abused in his prior home. After several weeks at home with my children Justin and Heather and me, Puppy began to exhibit his sweet nature, he learned to meet our gaze without stressing and to wag his tail vigorously at our approach.
I feel like Puppy's passing has marked a turning point in our lives and it brings a deep sadness to me in its realization. I recently married and am working towards moving lock, stock and barrel to West Virginia where my husband lives and that is a prospect that brings me much joy but it is bittersweet as I will be leaving behind my sweet daughter Heather who has recently begun attending art college nearby. In July, my son Justin relocated to Seattle. I adore my children and have loved our life together; loved raising them as a single mom. So this is a lot of change all at once. Puppy was some of the glue that held us all together. I guess I felt that as long as Puppy was with me, that my kids would gravitate to wherever I was. I know they'll come and visit me and I'll visit them, but Puppy was so central to our lives; even the routine of walking and feeding him, cleaning up after him in recent years as he grew more frail and sickly. Laughing at our imaginings of Puppy's nighttime activities and speaking for him in that distinctive Puppy vocal cadence.
God has been so good to us in bringing us Puppy's sweet soul to abide with our family for a short time. I sense though that a creature that could bring so much love and merriment could never be too far away; that he is with us, though we can't see him. Rest in peace, my sweet Puppy.
