Schmoo 8/13/12

So it has been a year..

A long year.
A year without my friend of 16 years.
A year without a dog in my life.

A year of reflections, of memories, of hurt and loss and grief and pain,
Of smiles at those memories, and yes, a tear or two.

A year that has taught me a bit, when I have taken the time to think, and learn.
A year of tending the tree that I planted over her grave.

I miss my dog.

I miss my friend.

I don’t know if I will ever get another dog. I have 4 (nearly 4 1/2!) cats.
They love me, and I, them.

But they aren’t a dog, and they love in a different way…

She led the way…..I am sure we will meet again….

Someday.

Kipling had it right:

 

The Power of the Dog
by
Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to
fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why
do we always arrange for more?

Brothers and sisters, I bid you
beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.


Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot
lie–
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or
a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your
heart to a dog to tear.


When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in
asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription
runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find–it’s
your own affair–
But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to
tear. 


When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper
of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered
your every mood
Is gone–wherever it goes–for good,
You will
discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to
tear. 


We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to
burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At
compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the
case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ‘em, the more do
we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A
short-term loan is as bad as a long–
So why in–Heaven (before
we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

And yet…..
I wouldn’t trade our time together for the world.

The gift that a dog gives us is to see us as we would like to be seen, rather than as we are.”

2 thoughts on “Schmoo 8/13/12

  1. It took me 20 years to get over my old Jack. I know how you feel.

    But I've had Wolfgang almost a year now. He's not Jack, but that's OK.

  2. Humans domesticated dogs. We repay their service, if we're not assholes, by being good stewards of their lives. You were a good steward and you earned Schmoo's love. When the time comes, another dog is out there waiting for your good stewardship. Don't let that other dog down.

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