Day 29: ...

Actions speak louder than words

An ellipsis

Tonight was tragic. On out way up to the mountains, my 8year old Saint Bernard, Bodie decided to jump from the back of the truck while we were on the freeway. He has never done this before and my family and I are at a loss for what was going through his head. The consequences were more than pressing. Bodie broke his left hind leg and for a dog of his weight and size only $12,000 of stabilization, surgery, and years of recovery with little likelihood he could walk or go to the bathroom by himself again, left us with little choice but to put him down.

Bodie is traditionally very suspicious of strangers. However, when the whole “pack” gets together to go for a walk he is usually very open to accepting new members. My hope, was to go for a hike tomorrow (as we usually do in the mountains) and bring Daesha along so that Bodie would know she is going to become a member of the pack.

This was cut short and will never be, but I am still so grateful for all of the time I have had with Bodie these past eight years. From local walks and hikes, to playing fetch, learning to “shake hands,” playing hide and seek, tug of war, days on the lake, and eating my fresh cog of cheese off the counter when I brought it back from Europe—lots of fun memories with this dog who really did become one of my best friends.

I give this backstory because the “ellipsis” has a deeper meaning. Daesha didn’t know Bodie and thus couldn’t really relate or understand what I was going through. Many people “try to make things better” or say to much, especially during times of tragedy and grief. Daesha loved me so well. She hugged me, cried with me, and was simply there without trying to do too much.

It is like the iMessage bubble—thinking, writing, saying nothing...yet. Thank you Daesha for being by my side during this tough day and big loss. Your actions speak louder than any words could. I love you, Bodie would have loved you as well.