Foley Remembers a Big City Adventure with Pocket

 

I knew Pocket wasn’t feeling well earlier this wek, so I decided to fly down as a ghost to see her and reminisce about some of the great adventures we had together.  “Remember when we went to New York?” I asked. She groaned and said she would rather forget.  I knew she had lost her sense of daring-do, and I would have to restore it. 

She was just a puppy, four months old when I learned that if I went on the computer, typed in a zip code, highlighted it, then clicked it, I would upload to where the zip code was from. When everyone was working, I took Pocket from her crate, held her paw, and uploaded us to New York City. 

Pocket and I landed in the lobby of the Empire State building. “We are going to go to the top!” I said excitedly. “I bet we could see our house from there. Pocket balked saying she was scared. “It’s perfectly safe,” I told her, “unless you put your paws on the glass. Then you will fall to a terrible death.  Now follow me.”

 I snuck through a door that was jammed open.  The only thing that was between us and summitting the building was a few stairs.  When I told Pocket we just had to climb a bit, she said: “Are you crazy?”  I told her it would only be a few floors.  After 87,000 steps, Pocket laid down and told me to get her after I reached the top. I was beginning to regret bringing her.  She was a drag.  

I went to the top, looked at my people, took a picture of our house, then went back down only to discover, Pocket was gone.  I checked the stairs and floors.  I shouted her name, but she didn’t answer.  I had to find her.  I couldn’t go home alone.  Pocket hadn’t been around long enough to worm her way into my parents’ hearts, but she did cost money, and that would be missed.

I ran around the streets asking if anyone had seen a two-pound Yorkie pup, but they all pretended they did not understand my barks.  I remembered I had a superior sniffer and that Pocket smelled faintly like pee.  Sadly, so did the entire city.  Then I heard a familiar yip and ran down an alley pursuing the sound.

I saw Pocket with a group of stray bulldogs.  I caught up to them and confronted the leader, telling him I wanted my sister back.  “Forget it, lady,” he said. “Pocket is with us now.  She’s still got all her lady parts and is young and fertile.  She can raise a gang of her own.”

“I am going to be a stud!” simple Pocket boasted.  I explained to my sister that our parents would miss her, but I had told her that they didn’t need another dog for so long she started to believe it.  “I am better off here,” she said.  “You are right, I can’t be housebroken, and I don’t listen.  Mommy and Daddy won’t miss me.”

I reminded her of the soft touches she would get at home, the big bed, the unconditional love.  “But I won’t be getting dumpster chicken,” she said before spitting up something gross.

I asked her what she wanted to come back home, and she said the ability to pee wherever she wanted, me to treat her with respect,  and the space in the bed by my parents’ knees, which is the warmest.  I offered her two out of three, and she agreed.   

But, we still had a problem.  The street dog would only let her go if I fought for her.  I knew it would be challenging, but I was tough and a great knee biter.  We charged at one another, then he bit me and tossed on to the top of the Statue of Liberty.  

Then I saw Pocket lunge at the big dog and push him back, ordering him to leave her sister alone.  She showed such ferocity the gang ran away.  We reunited at Lady Liberty’s big toe.  We snuck into the office and uploaded us home, getting there just before the humans did. 

When I got done with my story, I could tell Pocket felt better and got some of her grit back.  I want her to be happy, healthy, and wise but will settle for two out of three.  I do not want my sister to come to the Bridge anytime soon.  When she does, I know she’ll never leave.  I swear she will be here for an eternity.  

Wordless Wednesday

 

Beat This Caption

 

A picture of a man who in one week will be asking the vet why his cat doesn't use the litter box any longer.

Monday Question

 

Were you affected by the fireworks this year?

Lily Brings Everlasting Love to the Bridge

 

Hobo Hudson fidgeted with his cummerbund.   The nervous groom began pacing again as he waited for his bride to cross the Bridge.  “What if Lily doesn’t want to marry me again?” He asked for the third time. 

I told him she had on the mortal side, so there was no reason to think she wouldn’t do the same at the Bridge. 

“She was just taking pity on a foolish old dog,” he sighed dejectedly.  “It said in the vows ‘til death do you part. Well, I upped and died, ending the union.  Whoever wrote the vows put in a heck of an escape clause.”

I reminded him that last week he had gone into Lily’s dreams and proposed again. 

“That was before the great separation. Such an event can change any dog’s mind—especially  Lily when she was separated from her mom. 

For 17 years, Lily had been her mom’s constant.  No matter how bad her day was or the losses she faced, Lily was always there to make the circumstances a little easier to endure.  Is there anything more valuable?  Lily filled a lot of her mom’s needs.  She was a pet, a daughter, a friend, a confidant, a co-worker, a travel companion, and a reason to continue.  And, her mom filled the same role as Lily. 

There were other dogs in the pack, and they were all loved and could not have had better homes, but Lily and her mom shared a heart, and the tiny white ball of love took it with her when she departed.  Lily had guided her mom through the darkness when other members passed, but now, despite having dogs at home who want to help, Lily's mom can’t help but feel she must walk it alone.  

Lilly's mom had set aside the last week of her pup’s mortal life to spend with her before 

Lily made her final departure.   Then on Friday, Lilly’s mom made the hardest decision of her life and took on all of Lilly’s pain and suffering so her child could be free from it. The doctor administered a single shot, and Lily full over the rainbow. 

Usually, I meet the new angels at the landing named after the distinguished groom, but Lily was greeted by her best friend Hattie Mae at his request.  They held one another and cried as tears of rain released by clouds that traveled from the mortal side mixed with theirs. Hattie took Lily by the paw and led her to the seamstress’ cottage for girl talk, cookies, and more tears.   She kept one secret from the new angel.   Hobo wasn’t preparing their house for Lily but waiting for her at Smoochy’s cathedral at the Doggyspace section of Rainbow Bridge. 

When Hattie determined Lily was ready, she showed her the wedding gown Hattie had specially designed for her. It was quickly the most stunning garment Hattie had ever created.   Then they hurried to the cathedral where Hobo waited with his groomsmen. Leo, Tommy, and Lily’s brother Linky. 

Josie, Shiloh, and Smartie served as bridesmaids, and seated in the congregation were every dog who had posted on social media and since passed over.  Lily appeared looking like the most angelic angel ever, and Hobo let out a soft cry mixed with a sigh. 

Aretha Franklin, who Hobo knows through a business deal, led the choir:  singing All 4-One’s “I Swear” as Lily walked down the aisle. I made the ceremony as brief as possible because I was certain Hobo would pass out from nerves exhaustion. 

I only made one change.  I switched from death they do part to they shall never be parted.  Then the couple walked up the aisle together:   Husband and wife for eternity.  Tommy had arranged a car for them.  Hobo climbed behind the wheel, and Lily slid into the passenger’s seat.  He started the car, and it flew into the air like Danny squiring Sandy in Greece.  Hobo had arranged a honeymoon at the finest resort on the moon because he loved her to there and back.

I wish our humans could have seen the happy couple and witnessed when all the sorrow turned to laughter in a world without end.  Amen.

 

For Dodger: May You Never Stop Running

 

Dogs are always better in packs, and there was no more extraordinary group than the Labbies.

    When I first met them, they were composed of Logan, Reba, and Dodger.    When Reba went to the Bridge, she found Raja to take her place in her mom’s heart.  Six years ago, Logan passed over after suffering heatstroke.  Named after a dear friend who had recently passed to the immortal world, Brody joined the pack to keep it a trio. But, the years began to take their toll on Raja and Dodger.  The latter begged for, borrowed, and stole heartbeats to stay with his mom, and he still had plenty in reserve, but the rest of his body was failing him.  This week Momma Wendy made the hardest decision to end his suffering and send him to the Bridge. 

    Fourteen years ago, Momma Wendy saw a Craiglist ad placed by a couple who couldn’t handle their lab’s wild side. When she answered it and met Dodger, she could tell he would be a handful. But, the Lord had given her two hands and a love for all animals. She had worked with horses for years and knew how to calm animals through love, understanding, a stiff backbone.   She happily brought him home, and when she let him play in a field, she realized that Dodger was the fastest thing she had ever seen.  A baseball fan, Wendy’s son, named him Dodger because he was a born centerfielder.  Big sister Reba taught him to return the ball after making one of his spectacular over-the-shoulder catches and not keep running.   

    Dodger bravely fought through several issues last year, namely hips that had long stopped working. Combined with seizures and a mini-stroke, the lions were determined to separate Dodger from his mom.   They also took his hearing and plagued him with dementia.   He cried whenever his mom left the room, forgetting where she was.   Momma Wendy knew her baby’s quality of life was diminished and, although it broke her heart, she sent him to the Bridge, reuniting the original trio. 

Despite his size, Dodger was his mom’s snuggle baby.   She merely had to say the word “snuggle,” and he would run to her and place his head on her lap.  When they both became aware, the end was near; they cuddle a lot, enjoying the heat and comfort of one another’s familiar bodies and scents.   They made the most of his final 15 months, riding out Covid together. As horrible as the pandemic was, it had secret benefits. For Momma Wendy and Dodger, it was the chance for a long goodbye.   She was a terrific dog parent, and he was a great dog, but together they were spectacular, reaching heights they never would without one another.  When they said their last goodbyes and Momma Wendy told him what a good boy he had been, he wished he could verbalize what a great mom she was and how much he loved her.  He needn’t worry because he said it all with his eyes. 

A mortal life begins with joy and ends in tears.   The opposite is true of the immortal world:  Life starts in tears and ends in joy.  When he reached the Bridge, Dodger was reunited with Logan and Reba: The original labbies were back together.  I barely had a minute to swear Dodger in when his siblings pounced on the new arrival. They sang and danced together and gave chase to one another for hours.  His mom was right:  Dodger was the fastest dog ever. Even in joy, there was sorrow because they knew their mom was brokenhearted.  Her new angels are working very hard to make sure there will be more dogs, horses, challenges, and love in her life.   But, it will never be as memorable as it was with Dodger.

I think that’s true of every angel who was ever whole-heartedly loved.  

 

Angel Baron Brings Chey Home

 

In the beginning, there was Baron.

    When we started on social media, he was a leader.  The beautiful German Shepard, also known as Bear, was one of the pups who taught us about dog social networking.  He was so popular that he had his celebration: Baronfest, where people and dogs came across the country to honor him.

Sadly, he was also one of the first of our friends to go to the Bridge.  Before that, passing over was something we feared, but Baron visited us in our dreams to show the magical place that is Rainbow Bridge and let us know that life is everlasting. 

Knowing he was getting older, Baron began searching for a new dog for his mom to be alone when he passed. He interviewed puppies in his dreams and found Cheyenne, who he believed would be her own dog and not a sad reminder of him. He signaled to his mom that Cheyenne was his choice by leaving two four-leaf clovers on the grass when she picked Chey up.  Baron did not have long with Chey, but he taught her everything she needed to know.

She proved to be a perfect choice.  She made new memories for her mom without stirring old ones.  She became a fantastic big sister to Kaiser, who went to the Bridge too early, and later Griff.  Most of all, she helped rebuild her mom’s heart, something she thought impossible when she rescued Chey.

Dogs of my generation were part of the first wave of social networking.   Many of them, like me, have gone to the Bridge, and been replaced.  Broken hearts were mended, and smiles continued.  But now, that second wave, the rebuilders, like Chey, is coming to the Bridge, shaking the new ground that was carefully rebuilt.

    The lions who come at night and left the seeds to rip apart parent and dog moved quickly when selecting Chey as their next target.  Suddenly, after a healthy 11 and a half years, she began bleeding in her GItractk.  She got a blood transfusion, and we angels were overwhelmed by all the prayers for her.  We quickly flew down to Chey, intent on saving her. 

Sadly, upon arriving, we learned the unbearable truth. The lions had destroyed Chey’s liver, and there was no doctor, or medication, that could reverse what they had done.  Shortly after we did, the doctors learned of her condition, and then Momma Monica, who knew she would have to remove the part of her heart that belonged to Chey and give it to her before letting her go to the Bridge. 

Baron is an important Angel and has been given special privileges, so instead of waiting for Chey to cross the Bridge, he got to meet her soul as soon as her heartbeat it’s last and guide her over the Bridge to where her many friends and family awaited. 

Before I swore Chey in, in front of everyone, Baron thanked Chey for taking such fantastic care of their mom and making him proud. Then they hugged, and their tears were mixed with human ones that fell on us while we waited. 

Then Chey and Kaizer, who went to the Bridge, far too young, were reunited.  They hugged too and then played like they did when they were young.  Brody, forever the alpha dog, gathered his siblings together to plan how to rebuild their mom’s shattered heart once again. 

    And, they will help her find the next pup, who will usher in a third wave of social media pups to lead us to a brighter future.