Love Always, Dell

As she fought back tears to be brave for her four-year-old daughter and five-year-old son when coming home from their final visit to her mother's burial, the two dashed inside their home to play and she collapsed on the porch swing.  How will she, and her husband, be able to tell their children in a way they would be able to understand with such young and delicate minds?

He chose to stay home to pack some odds and ends that would now go into storage.  When he heard his children come inside with a playful pitch in their voices, he too fought back tears.

As he was emptying the bottom drawer of a very old dresser, he found something - a piece of paper with lovely penmanship but sorrowful words.

'Dearest to my all,

When you find this letter, I will have passed away.  My imagination soared in what Heaven would be like as I wrote this fateful note.  The words below are true to what I dared thought.  

I am as surrounded in love from beyond as I was when I was alive.  I was not afraid.  I was not in pain.  I was simply exhausted from leading a marathon named life.  If this helps, I came in first (go gold for Team USA!).  I simply needed to rest my eyes and, yes sadly, never open them.  I am in Heaven now and I am sincerely happy.  My family is with me, my furry ones are with me.  So Heaven...not so bad!  When the day comes to explain where I am and where our beloved furry ones are, I will be with you to help them understand with such young and delicate minds.

I have to go now.  Did you know that in Heaven there is a smorgasbord?  Who knew!

Last thought -

The heart I had in life is the same I have in my soul.  I need not say more.

Love always,

Dell'

Dell was her mom.

As her flood of tears cleared, she slowly went inside and called for her children to come into the kitchen.

They raced to meet their mom.  They actually did know something was wrong but were too young to understand.  Instead they felt inquisitive, for unknown reasons, about furry loved ones they knew only through photos and shared stories from their parents...and their grandma.

"Mommy, where is Annie?"  Annie was a goofy yet loving cat perfect for Dell in her later years.

"Oh honey, Annie had to visit Grandma.  She just needed Grandma time."

"Mommy, where is Sammy?"  Sammy was a gentle and precious cat meant to be for Dell.

"Oh honey, Sammy had to visit Grandma.  He just needed Grandma time."

"Mommy, is this cat?"  They looked at an aged photo of their grandma holding a big, fluffy cat.

"Oh!  That was Scooter - Grandma's cat from a long time ago.  He was an outdoor cat and sometimes rough and tough, but he always came back home to be with his mommy - your Grandma."

"Mommy, who is this dog?"  They looked at a colored photo of their grandma kneeling down to pet a rather large dog.

"Oh!  That was Chessie - Grandma's Australian Cattle Dog from a long time ago.  You both would have adored Chessie because she was alive just in time to meet you, Theo, and you too, Julie.  How she loved her family and how protective she was of all of us - especially you two.  Chessie could not have puppies of her own, so you two were cared for by her as if she was your mommy."

"Is she with Grandma now?"  

Theo and Julie looked to each other with sad eyes.  They were very young but they were very smart.  They were starting to understand the thought of passing away.

"Yes," she whispered with flowing tears that she could not wipe away fast enough.

"Mommy, do not think of them as gone.  Think of them as a very long phone call away."

She gently laughed at what her mom always loved to hear.

Love always,

Dell

The Food Trolley

 

Theodore was a highly skilled Golden Retriever puppy.  He learned his obedience skills quickly.  He was naturally house broken..  Most of all, Theodore was adorably loved by his family and Theodore adorably loved his family.  

There was just one thing in his home that Theodore was most excited about - dry food mealtime served from his plastic food trolley on wheels.  'Oh boy!  Oh boy!  Oh boy' he exclaimed to himself when his human family called for him to come to the kitchen.  He happily barked and dashed to the kitchen every time.  He would look to his partially empty food bowl, eagerly looked to one of his human family members, and ate away when food in the food trolley was dished into his food bowl.  Yummy, yummy, yummy indeed.

The best part about the food trolley was not just for mealtime but for snack rewards when Theodore accomplished a training or refresher skill.

A happy belly.  A happy pup.

Meant to Last

 

Jack Russell Parson was an only child now at the age of five.  Jack loved playing outdoors on his family's large acre lot.  

He loved to kick a soccer ball back and forth with his dad.  He loved learning how to play tennis.  He was often lifted up to toss a basketball in the hoop.  The summer season was Jack's favorite because he could play in the little league (and prove that he may someday play in the major league).

There was just one thing missing in Jack Russell Parson's life.  You see, Jack loved dogs of nearly any breed.  Yet, he h0ped to someday adopt a dog as active as him.

On one warm summer Saturday, Jack was playing catch with his dad.  His dad quickly glanced at his wife's car pulling into the driveway with something very exciting moving mysteriously in the backseat.  

"Daddy, what are you looking at?"

Jack followed his dad's gaze to see a dog racing toward him, ready to play and ready to explore his new home.

"You got me a dog?!"

"Yep!" exclaimed his mom and dad at the same time.

"Do you know what breed this dog is, son?"

"Um, a Terrier?"

"Yes, but do you know which kind of Terrier?"

Jack frowned in frustration that he did not know.

"Jack Russell Parson, meet your new pup - a boy Jack Russell Terrier known also as a Parson Terrier."

"Hey!  That's my name!  Mommy!  Daddy!  Can I keep playing outside, with him?"

His mom, dad, and new pup looked to him in an of course you can tone.  Before the new pup eagerly waited to play with his new buddy, he needed a name.

"What would be a good name for him, son?" asked his dad.

Hmm, Jack thought to himself.  And then he knew -

"Jack Russell Parson!"

"That's your name, silly!" exclaimed his mom.

"I know, but his type of dog already has a good name.  So...Jack Russell Parson.  Please?"

...And they were off.  From one Jack Russell Parson to another, their bond clearly was meant to last.

Ally's Adventures

Ally was a loving, smart, energetic, goofy, loyal, and special one of a kind Border Collie.  Her human dad, Andrew, especially took to her for her joy of going on outdoor adventures.

Andrew traveled the world to learn and write about the history of foreign cities.  Every adventure he went on was as exciting and curious to him as was his travel companion, Ally.

Andrew wrote mainly about city life.  Ally adored countryside visits for her own adventures where she could explore, play, and stretch her dog bones to exercise.

On one warm summer day in the countryside of a European country, Andrew could not help but laugh as he watched his beloved one try to herd outside animals.  The owner of the outside animals couldn't help but be amused as well.

"Border Collie?" the owner asked Andrew.

"Yep.  Her name is Ally and she is forever a little rascal in open, grassy areas.  She is my sweetheart though, so somehow she never gets into trouble."

Both men laughed while Andrew tried to get Ally to focus on him.

"Come on, Ally.  It is time to go.  Thank you, sir, for allowing us to visit this beautiful land."

"You are more than welcome."  The owner waved goodbye and turned back to his outside animals for human herding.

"Well Ally, that was quite an adventure.  Where should we go next?"

Of course he knew the answer as much as Ally did - more countryside time!  He smiled softly and said to Ally,

"Okay, more countryside.  Can we still visit cities, though?"

Bark!  (Yes!)

Teacup Pup

 

Anna loved dogs with all her heart and passionate soul.  Every breed meant so much to her.  She often found herself lost in research about the history of various breeds, temperaments, and training.  She enjoyed looking into dogs available in the local humane society.  The photos and stories were sweet and left her with a want...

...that on one crisp, sunny Fall Saturday, her mom let her explore in person to adopt.  

"Anna, honey, I have to stop by my office for a few minutes and then we can go."

"Okay, Mom."

Anna and her mom drove in excited silence on the way to the office.  Anna was over the moon in eager wonderment about which dog she hoped for.

"Anna, just a few more seconds and then we're off!"

And then off they went.

Teacup Pup Boutique

Every once in a while, she and her mom would window shop along the block that the office was on.  Teacup Pup Boutique was adorable but not quite what she wanted.  Her eye was always on a Labrador.  On this Saturday though, a teacup pup nearest the window looked into her eyes as she just passed the door.  

"Say Mom, can we go into Teacup Pup Boutique?"

"Oh.  Of course we can, but I thought you wanted to look at the humane society?"

She glanced further into the boutique and in a surprising tone,

"Mom, I think I know which dog I want to adopt."

When they walked into Teacup Pup Boutique, all of the little, furry, adorably barking dogs said hello to them in their own way.  If they could -

"Pick me! 

"Pick me!

"Pick me!"

And so on.

They were all very cute but the one that caught her attention just outside was the one - in her loving heart and passionate soul.

As Anna and her mom went through the adoption process and fee, one of the staff members said,

"Please be assured that Teacup Pup Boutique partners with the local humane society.  All of our dogs are well taken care of  while the humane society cares for bigger size dogs."

Her teacup pup in his little bundle of love was a Yorkie and somehow the name of his breed stuck as his name to her.

Anna was sometimes unsure of Teacup Pup Boutique as not being a formal shelter or branch of the humane society but at the end of this perfect Saturday, she knew in her heart and soul that Yorkie was the perfect choice from a shop that cared for their little ones as much as the shelter and humane society did.

Yorkie - The Teacup Pup

First Dog

As the sun peacefully rose over the city, Abe dashed outside to stretch his puppy bones and play in the only place he was allowed - the South Lawn.

Abe was not your ordinary pet.  His family was not your ordinary family.  Their home was not your ordinary home.

You see, Abe - an American Foxhound - held the title First Dog.  His human mom was the First Lady and his human dad was the President of the United States.  Their home was the White House.

Of course, Abe did not know how important his family meant to the country.  He only knew what any other pup knew - meal time, play time, and nap time.  

Abe was forever a rascal when trying to play in the Rose Garden.  His dad was forever chasing him out to prepare for a news conference.

Today was a special day for Abe, his family, and the country - today was the Fourth of July.  In a city filled with change, one constant remained - celebrating the United States of America at her finest...despite historical flaws.  

After the President addressed the nation ahead of the formal party bashes, George - as Abe knew him - settled in with his wife, young children, and trusty Abe to a delicious meal and admiring spectacular fireworks on television.

It's good to be First Dog.

Paw Five Break

Dear readers and passersby,

I once again need to take a breather. 

I recently launched an online business and all of my focus is on promotion and getting customers.

I will keep posting to Bedtime Tails, but sadly not as often. 

I love Bedtime Tails so much and will not let you - my readers and passersby - down.  I ask only that you bear with me.

Paw Five always,
Lauren