Pages Navigation Menu

A letter from the dog

Posted on 20th October 2024
in This-n-that
by Dragonfly

photo by: Keelynn Heaven of Heaven photography

Goodbye my family.

It has been the most amazing 16 years. It started off rocky, I didn’t know you yet, I was frozen to the road, and my life before you I cannot talk about.

My life started when you found me. When mom’s boss and Joy Falls brought me over to you, I wasn’t sure what was happening. I was scared. I had frostbite and the life I had before was difficult. I thought it would be the same here. It wasn’t, sure, we have had our ups and downs. Yet this is the place I found peace, love, kindness and I could be….. me.

Timothy, on my first day…..

I found your sweet heart. I knew you would be the one I would connect with deepest. Your gentleness saw I wasn’t eating, that I was shy, and fearful. You sat with me and gave me a handful of food at a time. I ate cautiously at first, the hands before yours were harsh to me, I feared the same from you. What I found was a tender heart in the boy that became my first love.

You helped me through those first days that turned into years. I slept with you and we would giggle together while mom would tell us “It’s time for bed stop giggling and go to sleep.” We would continue until we heard the change in her voice, we knew, she meant business. I always would get one last lick on your face, you would giggle one last time, then we would snuggle in for a night filled with snores and dreams. I dreamed of you and the beautiful life I had lucked out on. Dreamed of the possibilities the next day would bring.

You learned a lot about beagles from me. I learned a lot about families from you. You had 2 other dogs, I could tell how special they were to you, yet you still made room for me in your home and heart. I remember teaching you how beagles would search for a smell and never give up. You ran outside and would try to hide. Meanwhile, I gave mom a difficult time, scratching at the door until the weather seal was ripped to shreds. When she opened the door to look and show her displeasure I bolted… my nose hit the ground and found your scent….. then I would scream….”I’ve found you!!!!!!!!” Mom would shake her head and laugh. Then the race was on…. you ran around the house and I screamed for you to keep going….. we played hide and scent for hours. Nanna would call, “are Timothy and snoopy outside? Or….” mom would reassure Nanna the “Game is on….” I could play that game forever. I loved looking for you. Because the reward was so amazing when I found you. Giggles and licks and loves. I dream of those days now. Wishing my old bones could still play hide and scent.

I was the children’s dog. That’s what mom and dad always said. Chess~nut was dad’s best friend and Loverly was mums. But honestly we all loved everyone. We slept where we wanted and played with whomever would. I learned a lot from my predecessors. They were wise and knew a lot. I made a promise to them when they left on the last drive, that I would stay and watch over each of you.

Dez…. my second love.

I stayed with and snuggled with him until he left for college. I remember mom telling me he was all grown and headed out. I watched the door everyday waiting for him to come home…. when Dez visited my heart was so full. It reminded me of how I helped teach his heart how to Love. Dez you and I taught each other so much. We both had such a difficult start but we found a deep love with mom and dad. They tried their hardest to have patience and they loved us unconditionally. They did an amazing job with me. I hope you feel the same. You taught me the love of books and laying still to read each word. That my ears were a sorce of calming. That long walks are overrated and once you are out of view it’s okay to sit and read the book mom didn’t know we had with us. You always shared your food with me… but I really had to give the big sad eyes to get it. You always loved food, just as much as me.

Do you remember my Hobo box? It didn’t matter which box it was, if it was left on the back porch I used it… because sleeping in a box is fun. It always made you giggle. I have missed your laugh, almost as much as mum.

Kinz….. she became my third love.

When Dez left I wondered around trying to figure out where my paws should rest. Being food driven her room was the best next logical choice. There was always food to be had. She even fed me like the prince I am…. from her fork! One bite for her and several for me. We would go on “walks” together. I never made it the whole way but I knew there was always food at the end. She would take me to Burger Bus and order food for both of us. Funny thing…. I would eat hers too. Mum knew. She was never dumb about it. But knew it wasn’t worth the argument about us going. Hoping I would walk off all the extra food.

I watched another of “my babies” leave when she went off to college. With both the other dogs gone on the last drive. I knew my job was extra special now. I moved in with my fourth love.

Izzy, he and I had a rocky but fun time together. I got in a lot of trouble with him because he didn’t want to share food the same way. I stole a lot of his food, Jokes on you buddy, it’s all mine anyway. I was slowing down a lot by then. I knew I still needed to watch over the last two boys at home. But my old bones were making it difficult. I couldn’t even chase the lazer light mum got me for Christmas Izzy’s senior year. I wanted to so badly. I made efforts but it wasn’t the same, and there were a lot of changes happening.

pawpaw was dying, and mum was gone so often. She was helping there and with other people. Me, I tried to fill the gap in all the hurting hearts at the house. We found good times and smiles through all the rough things. Mostly my antics of finding ways to steal food kept you all on your toes. My favorite time was when I was younger and I stole that whole lasagna off the stove while mum went upside to get you kids. Chessy and Loverly liked that time a lot too. Even though mum was mad, she did tell me how smart I was. Finding a way to get the chair all the way over to the stove so quickly.

mum and dad both told me often, “you are too smart for your own good. “

photo by: Keelynn Heaven of Heaven photography

I’m not really sure what that meant. But mostly I believe it had to do with the way I always figured out how to steal food.

I watched Izzy head off to his new life and I only had my first love left. Timothy has always brought a twinkle to my eye. Like the day we were at Uncle Nate’s working on your truck and you decided to “Tea Bag” me. (Here comes in that too smart for my own good thing) you had all those nuts and bolts bags down on the ground waiting to be placed in the new part you were installing with Dad. As soon as I saw those sitting there….. I grabbed them. As you chased me I shook those As hard as I could spreading your nuts EVERYWHERE. That’ll show you I thought. Put your nuts on my head will you? I’ll spread your nuts all over the ground. And I didn’t give up until you couldn’t stop laughing with Dad. I knew I had done the perfect job.

As Timothy began to find a new love of family. I began to realize it was okay to let go. Mum and dad have 2 new pups to watch over them. And I’ve given them strict instructions. They are to love the family of 2 deeply and completely. Nelly has learned how to alert dad when mum isn’t doing well. It’s been fun to see her watch so closely over mum. Pebbles has even become a foot dog for dad. Something I wasn’t sure I could teach her. But there we have it, my job is complete.

And since my legacy is so securely in place. And each of you, My children, Have moved on. It’s okay for me to let my old bones rest.

mum and dad have treated me well. They gave me children to watch over. Laughter that filled the halls. And love. More love than any dog could ask for. I’ve been blessed. More so then I ever thought possible. I’m thankful for the day that mum’s boss pulled over and took me HOME. Because my HOME was with YOU.

Thank you, Each of you for loving me so completely. Until we meet again over the rainbow bridge,

Snoopy