A Tear or Two

My wife and I each have a handled basket. They are green to match the kitchen and sit on either end of the sideboard. They are catch-alls for mail, etc. etc.--basically to keep stuff from lying on the cabinets. Every once in a while we "clean them out" and make final decisions on what's inside. I decided to do that yesterday. I came across a piece of folded white paper with something inside. It was Stinky Wink's county tag. We had gotten his shots just a week before he got so ill, and I had not had a chance to put it on his collar. A week ago I would have gone to pieces at such a find. This time I smiled and a couple of tears dropped. The first few years I kept all his tags, like we used to keep the kids' things from school. In my old-age "let's prioritize" years, I've tried to decide what should be kept and what shouldn't. The tags were one thing that hit the second category. This one, however, will be kept. It was still in the little plastic bag. I put it in the "special place" where I'm keeping some other things of Wink's. I marked the exact corners of his grave yesterday, so that when the weather finally cooperates, I can get the stones laid on the top, and then place the statue and grave-stone. I'm sure that when I'm on my knees doing that, he'll be right there beside me in spirit, the way he always was when I gardened. My heart will sense that presence and welcome it. There may be a tear or two for a while--maybe forever. But tears can also heal the heart--one or two at a time.

0 members like this

Comment

You need to be a member of MyCorgi.com to add comments!

Join MyCorgi.com

Comment by John Wolff on March 2, 2012 at 12:39pm: Siri's spot has a couple nice stones and a lot of bulbs. They're up already (Spring comes early in the Pacific Northwest).

Comment by Rebecca on March 1, 2012 at 9:38pm: Randy, you will find that they will always be there in spirit and in your heart. I've been saving all my dog tags to. I thought of making a wind chime out of them. So when they sway and chime you can think of them and their spirit around you.

Comment by Jennifer Markley on March 1, 2012 at 3:37pm: I've kept each and every dog's collar that I've had the joy to have. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but they make me smile when I see them in the "dog drawer", and for a brief moment, I smile at their memories. I am positive that Wink will be right there beside you each and every day, and I wouldn't be surprised if that area of your yard isn't the greenest and brightest this year.

Comment by Ellen Andersen on March 1, 2012 at 12:36pm: Randy, where I have my beloved critters buried, I'd planted a bunch of daffodil bulbs around the markers...every Spring that little area is alive with color, beauty, and rebirth. It reminds me (not that I need reminding) of the pets I've loved and lost BUT it's a happy reminder, you know?