R.I.P. Jasmine
A wild thing. She should have been called Aslan the protector, after the lion in Narnia. She was an outside, uncombed, dreadlocked chow that wouldn’t come inside on the coldest nights but hated the heat. And thunder.
She did her thing and I did mine. But our paths crossed, everyday when I walked to the mailbox, she trotted alongside me. At night when the screen door slammed and I headed to the trampoline to jump, she would bounce over and make herself comfortable, watching over me as I did.
Once, after my brother Danny died, I swore she lent him her body for a few seconds and he looked out at me through her eyes.
Another time, she was in a confrontation with a cornered groundhog that wouldn’t back down. With adrenaline running through my bloodstream, I got her to walk away (after the groundhog drew blood and looked to be winning).
She was my youngest son Dylan’s dog. When Dylan was a teenager and still living with us, I spotted him once driving through town. From the back, I thought the big hairy dog sitting in the front seat next to him was a new wild blonde girlfriend.
Now she’s lifeless. After 11 years. Her first toy (a blue miniature football that she would fetch but never give back) lies lonely in the grass. It’s quiet. Too quiet. And we never got to say goodbye.
May 22nd, 2011 8:34 am
So sorry.
May 22nd, 2011 10:15 am
Losing a pet is so hard… they leave such a hole in your heart… still those who love animals have such huge hearts… we tend to keep giving those pieces away. I know your son is hurting and you as well, doubly.. for the loss of a friend and your son’s pain.
May 22nd, 2011 11:02 am
I’m not even that much of a pet person so it has surprised me how hard this has been and it certainly has helped me understand the depths of other people’s pain at losing a pet.
May 22nd, 2011 8:11 pm
aww, sorry to hear it Colleen!
May 22nd, 2011 9:55 pm
I am so sad!!!! xoxo
May 23rd, 2011 10:18 am
I am so sorry for your loss, Colleen. She sounds like a wonderful spirit to have known.
May 23rd, 2011 10:22 am
(((HEALINGHUGS))) for you and all those who are missing the unique and beautiful Jasmine.
May 23rd, 2011 1:08 pm
i’m so sorry for your loss. reading this reminding me of a terrier dog i lost recently and i started crying. i cry over my darn pets than i do people. i feel your loss. ++metta++ to you and to jasmine.
May 24th, 2011 10:51 am
I still sometimes dream about the first pet I ever lost. His name was Sprite and he was a miserable little dog – but I loved him anyway. My thoughts are with you.
May 24th, 2011 4:14 pm
Losing a pet is always very hard. Thinking kind thoughts for you!
May 25th, 2011 8:39 am
I’m so sorry about Jasmine, Colleen…love her name!
Wendy