She Watched Me Leave
She stood still as I drove away.
For weeks she stood by and watched as I ran all around, fretting over the things I would take on my trip.
Every night that last week she was there as I returned home from saying heart wrenching goodbyes to friends and family.
She was faithful, clever, mischievous, and a total nut case.
She joined our family when I was ten years old. We called her Bullet cause she was fast. A pit bull mix, she was absolutely precious. She soon became a daddy’s girl and my partner in crime.
We would walk to Nannie’s together (where she would get hotdogs). She’d sit out in the studio with me and lay by my easel as I painted. She would even ride the golf cart with me.
She watched and played as we built my brother’s house.
She sat with me as I did my school work. When I went to public school she would wait and greet me when I got home.
She watched me grow up.
We held each other when storms rolled in. (Fearless she was not).
She slowly welcomed in the cats I brought home. (She was a softy).
She slept on the floor beside my bed on cold winter nights.
She barked at anything and everything that moved. (For she was very protective).
She chased cars and scared the UPS drivers.
She snored loudly in the middle of the night startling those of us who are a bit jumpy.
She would charge her way into the house in the midst of the summer heat.
She took naps on her back with her legs straight up in the air.
She made us laugh.
She watched me grow up and begin to ignore her. Still welcoming me at the door when I’d get home late from doing things I wasn’t suppose to.
Despite the fact I didn’t spend much time with her, she was still there to hug and cuddle with when I lost my grandmother, my aunt, my grandfather…
She witnessed my life change when I decided to let Jesus back into it.
She stood and watched as I packed for Honduras. And upon my return she welcoming me with her tail wagging. She sat there listening to me the next day as I tried to figure what to do with myself. Then she laid with me for the next week while I was very sick.
She laid there as I filled out my World Race application and through all the phone calls as I was interviewed and accepted.
She sat next to me while I fundraised.
She welcomed me home after training camp.
She stood with me as I prepared to leave.
She was strong and loving through our goodbye.
She watched me drive away.
Since then she’s been spoiled by mom and dad.
Since then we’ve gotten to FaceTime….her tail wagging and my heart longing.
Neither of us knowing it would be our final goodbye.
Throughout the Race there have been many moments when I’ve anticipated the moment when I’d hop out of the car as she would run up with her tail swingin, tongue hangin out, and her body bouncin around. The moment when I fall to my knees pulling her into my arms. We’d run up the stairs into the house and then run over to Nannie’s- smiling all the way.
Today I had to accept that home will be a little different.
Today I had to accept that one less member of our family will welcome me at the door.
You may think of me as silly, but I’m telling you there ain’t nothing in this world like having a dog. Loyal to the end.
So, today we say goodbye to this ball of sunshine.
