My morning routine includes a cup of
green tea, the morning news, and my Boston terrier, Patches sleeping soundly in
my lap as we wait for the house to warm up. She curls up in my lap and lays her
head on my arm—usually the arm next to that cup of tea.
Heaven
forbid I sit in the easy chair working on my laptop alone. This is her spot. She
will stand with her paws on the armrest and stare me down with those big brown
eyes until I put the computer away or make room for her too. I've learned to
type with her paw on the keyboard. My new chair will be over-sized so there will
always be room for her.
If
I eat, she has to eat. Moreover, if I go to the bathroom, she's waiting by the
back door when I’m done. When I nap, she curls up beside me and snores with a
sound that resonates as loud as a freight train, but it's a sound I love. Her greeting
when I walk in the door is always smile inducing, and if I don't have a treat
for her I feel like I've let her down, but she never complains. Her response to
the word walk or the jingle of her lease, well I cannot help but wish her
energy were transferable.
I
sometimes feel that she’s mini me, my shadow, my conscience. She is the reason
I get up in the morning, literally. Each night she leads the way to bed and
lets me tuck her in, but she won't rest her head until I'm in my bed next to
hers.
She
just stretched and managed to capture my right arm, so I am typing this one
handed while balancing my laptop on the arm of the chair. My teacup is empty,
the news is repeating, and I really need to get to my day started. However, for
several more minutes of cuddling with her, what better excuse to veg.
She is an angel with deep brown eyes, soft
warm body, few if any expectations, but a never-ending capacity to love. Leona
Helmsley left 12 million dollars to her precious pet, and I know why!
Patches
is the angel in my lap, the sunshine that fills my day, and the love that makes
my world go round.
Yolanda
Renee © 2011
Patches
July 29, 2004 - July 3, 2014
I wrote this piece
several years ago. Today, July 3, 2014, at 11:13 AM my little girl, Patches,
passed away in my arms. I felt her heart stop beating.
On May 8th, she had
two seizures within 12 hours and the doctor told us that it's typical for dogs
to get epilepsy. We were hopeful and changed her diet. She seemed better. But
on June 25 she had another, and then another and by Monday before her doctor's
appointment, she'd had seven more seizures, and then another at the doctor's office. The
doctor diagnosed a brain tumor. He gave us medication and it decreased the
number and severity, but she was declining rapidly. She no longer knew her
name, or us, or her surroundings.
Last night she
allowed me to hold her for several hours. This morning I knew things were worse. I held her, assured her of my love, and prayed for God's mercy. She died in my arms and I'm so very grateful for the opportunity
to have known such a beautiful creature. My heart is broken for the loss of
her.
R. I. P. - My sweet baby girl!
