Another Unexpected Loss
Things don’t ever go as planned! If you noticed my Memorial post did not get posted until after Memorial Day was over. I have had a blog post started in memory of my dear friend and just needed to finish a few things before I got it posted, and then the unexpected happened, our dog suddenly laid in the front entry way, laid down, and just that fast stopped breathing. I don’t know what happened, she was healthy and fine, excited to see my kids arriving home from the lake just a few moments earlier.
Our sweet Daisy Doodle, in just an instant was gone. We had company coming over minutes later and had no direct time to process what had just happened. Our sweet girl, who has been with my children for the past 9 years, is now gone, so fast, just gone. My 8-year-old son told me he let Daisy sleep with her last night, he walked her to his bed, and they snuggled together one last time. Daisy always sleeps in my room, so how sweet that they had their last night together, before she passed away. It’s like she knew and was saying goodbye.
For a homeschooling project, my kids made a huge presentation on why we should let Daisy come live with us, as their pet. Our friend’s mother was fighting cancer and couldn’t take care of her 5-month-old dog, so they asked if they could please re-home her to our family. I had just gotten out of the hospital after a three week stay recovering from blood clots in my lungs after childbirth. This was not the ideal time to bring a puppy into our home, yet their presentation was so prepared and so convincing. As a homeschool mom, who encouraged thoughtful preparation, how could my husband and I say no.
We welcomed Daisy into our home, and she has been a part of our family ever since. She was my foot warmer, when I was at my desk working late hours into the night. She was my kid’s school aide, always there to help when they had any questions. She was our silly stunt dog, who loved to stand to greet you. She was right under the table, waiting for anything to drop by any child. She was snuggled up next to you when you were sick, and always playing games with you.
Hours after she passed, when the company had left, our 8-year-old son, said, “it’s okay everyone, Mariana really loved Daisy, so Daisy is playing with Mariana in heaven right now.” That brought comfort to our family tonight, a sweat tender mercy from above! Mariana did love our dog, and they we can be comforted that they are together right now.
I think what is hitting me tonight is the tears that keep falling. I don’t think it’s all the dog, I think everything is just hitting me. I cried a lot during the final weeks of my friend’s life. I then held it all together, when it was time for my children to say goodbye to their ‘second mom’, as their eyes were filled with tears for days. I held the tears in during the service, as much as I could, and now tonight, the tears just won’t stop falling. I think all the emotions are finally being released. Happy and sad tears, but tears, nonetheless.
My children still have their two puppies (now three years old), but Daisy has just left another empty space in our lives tonight.
