Be Prepared for Love (even in the face of grief)
What the new puppy has taught me about surprise, grief, and joy
Dear Friends,
You might recall that my dog, my friend, my deep companion Corey died earlier this year from a sudden-onset, untreatable cancer. It was horrible. It still hurts every day.
Last night, my younger son said that he has trouble sleeping alone in his room because Corey used to sleep with him until he fell asleep. (At which point she would come to my room, LOL.)
But even more incredibly, if my son woke in the night and called her name, she would go back to his room and sleep with him until he fell asleep again.
The thing about animals, and all things that we love and lose, is that we cannot replace them in our hearts once they’re gone. There will always be a place where that grief resides. Even if I find another ten wonderful dogs, Corey will always be the one who helped my kid sleep.
Last month, we adopted a puppy from Saving Grace Animal Rescue in Raleigh, NC, about an hour from where we live. This place is amazing. They go around to kill shelters in NC (we have the second highest rate of animal euthanasia in the country), and bring them to their huge farm.
By the time the animals are ready for adoption, they’re screened, socialized, and romping about outside instead of locked up in cages. My husband and I found a six month old puppy, and people, I HATE puppies (they chew, they pee, they need constant supervision, they are the worst), but this pup looked at me with big brown eyes, and all I saw was Corey.
Corey was telling me to take him home.
I am not woo. I can’t do yoga. I try to meditate, and my brain is like a live wire. I don’t do astrology, chakras, or reiki. But when I tell you my Corey told me to bring this dog home, I’m telling the truth.
His name is Theodore Rose Pryal, or Teddy, and every day he’s with us he becomes more and more essential to my life. Right now he is snoring on his dog bed next to my desk, and I can’t imagine a day without him there.
So what can we learn from this?
Be prepared to be surprised. I was bowled over by my emotions for this pup; in fact, I started sobbing there in the grassy field of the shelter while he lolled on my lap. My husband had to tell the adoption coordinator that I was fine because I was choking on my own snot and couldn’t talk.
Be prepared for joy. It’s there, even in the face of grief. There is so much joy for us, simply waiting in the wings. But we have to open our hearts to it. (See:
)Be prepared for love. This pup follows me everywhere. He sleeps next to my desk chair. He cuddles me on the couch when I watch Formula 1. He is kind to children. I fell in love with him and didn’t even notice until after it happened, and now I’m bowled over all over again. The point is, the circle of life includes the circle of love. And here it is, in this puppy-shaped creature.
Love to you,
Katie
Updates
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