Love Always, Chessie

As she fell into forever sleep, sorrowful tears awoke many happy memories.

"Who is this little girl?" Dell asked the pet store owner as she scratched the ears of a rather shy puppy.

"Why that is Blue!  She is very reserved because so many of the other puppies in her crate have received a lot of attention and adoption.  We think she is adorable, though," said the owner.

"You know, she is adorable...and so sweet!"

(Blue was feeling happy as a clam with the special attention she was getting and nearly fell into a trance with feel-good ear scratches.)

"I'll adopt her," Dell happily announced.

As Dell placed Blue securely in her car and got in herself, she paused to start the engine to really look at Blue.

"Hmm.  You look like an Australian Blue Heeler, so that must be why you are named Blue.  There is a checker shape on the top of your head, though...just like a chess board.  I think I want to call you Chessie.  Deal?"

Chessie somehow knew and barked happily in agreement.

Chessie was a loved dog that equally loved back.  She was strongly protected by her human family and she was even more protected of them.

As Chessie grew, so did her family.

On one late summer afternoon, Dell's daughter, Anne, called with exciting news.

"Hi Mom.  Do you have a minute?"

"Hi Anne.  I have a minute.  What's up?"

"Well, here's the thing.  I'm pregnant!"

"Oh honey, congratulations!  I know how hard you and Anthony have been trying.  Just so exciting!  My first grandchild.  Wow!"

Anne visited her mother often for advice throughout the pregnancy.  She was to be a new mom and needed constant reassurance from her mom.

Chessie offered soothing comfort as well.

Chessie was a unique dog.  She was fixed early in life and could not have puppies of her own.  She held a profound maternal instinct, though, and leaned against Anne's belly every time Anne visited her mother.  She knew there was a baby in Anne's growing belly.  She loved that baby a great deal before he or she was even born...

...on May 13th, Anne's baby girl was born.  The labor and delivery were difficult for Anne, so she needed time to settle in at home after discharge from the hospital.  When she felt okay to travel, even for the few miles between her mother's home and her condo, Anne wanted to introduce her daughter to Chessie.

"Hi Chessie!  There is someone I want you to meet."

Anne gently knelt down with her baby securely in her arms and let Chessie look at the baby she considered hers as well.

"Her name is Anna Elizabeth.  Ten fingers.  Ten toes.  As healthy as can be.  What do you think, Chessie?"

Chessie was in a motherly trance with Anna Elizabeth.  Anna was hers...

...When Dell or Anne took Anna for walks in her stroller, Chessie gently but firmly leaned into the side of the stroller.  If a stranger walked passed, Chessie growled.  If a stranger looked suspicious, Chessie barked loud to protect her little Anna.  No one would get past her.

When Anna was able to sit upright, she loved to tug hard at Chessie's ears   Chessie happily soaked in the baby's love...her baby's love.

Chessie soaked in all the love her heart could possibly hold.  This helped get her through devastating cancer...that eventually took her life.

Dell and Anne were devastated and grieved for some time.

On the last walk Dell took Anna on with Chessie, Chessie accidentally stepped in wet cement, leaving a paw print that would soon dry and preserve.  Dell didn't notice this until the day she brought her little girl's ashes home.

If her little girl could, she would say,

"Love always, Chessie."