Best buds forever.
Today’s blog post is dedicated to our favorite friends.This has taken a while to write, as I’m still struggling with the loss of our family’s best friend. In January, we lost our black lab named Jack. He and our yellow lab, Benny, both escaped through a hole in the fence and were run over two miles from our house. After we found Jack’s body, we searched all day for Benny and had just about given up hope. Benny limped home at 2:30 the next morning. And I have no idea how he made it with two broken feet and dislocated hips. My daughter and I believe that Jack’s spirit helped guide Benny home.
Our big sweeties.
She and I have been mourning Jack nearly every day since then, while also nursing Benny back to health. To say these past few months have been rough is an understatement. To add to the pain of losing Jack, comes the misery of watching my child suffer. He was her playmate and best friend. She has cried nearly every day since he died. Thankfully, after three hours of surgery and several weeks of recovering at home, Benny is almost fully healed.
As a tribute to our furry friends, I’ve decided that animals will have a key role in the plot for my next Whispers book. I love animals, especially dogs. I’m allergic to cats, but I have several friends who have feline friends. I speak from experience when I say that pets are a boon when we are feeling depressed or sick. Though their time here with us is relatively brief, their loyalty and companionship inspires the characters in my books.
Back when I was seriously ill, my step-daughter gave me a rat terrier, P-Nut. I didn’t have much energy to play with my doggie, but somehow she sensed my illness and was there to comfort me during a difficult time. I think pets have a sixth sense and are more attuned to our bodies sometimes than we are. So wouldn’t it make sense to have animals play an integral role in my Whispers series as my girls’ paranormal powers are strengthening with each new book?
Brinley and P-Nut are hard at work protecting the family from the evil vacuum.
On a more positive note, this past year we welcomed Brinley, the sweetest little chi, and Hunter, our new black lab, to the family. Both dogs spent most of their time locked up in kennels because their owners were too busy to take care of them. And though no dog can replace our sweet Jack, I’m happy to open my heart and home to other furry friends in need.To all of my past friends, you will forever be missed: Peaches, Scooby, Buster and Jack.
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Today, please check out my buddy, paranormal author Shea MacLeod’s blog, as she kicks off ZOMBIE MONTH. My awesome author pals, The Eclective are also giving away a cool Celtic t-shirt to celebrate the release of their newest anthology, The Celtic Collection, now available on Amazon for .99 and Smashwords for FREE.
March 6, 2012 at 4:42 am
I am so sorry for your loss but glad you still have Benny. jack would want you to take care of him and to open your heart to other animals. RIP. Our animals are our family and no one loves you quite like a dog.
March 6, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Thanks. Our doggies certainly are loving. It’s hard not to love them back, even after they’ve shredded all of the tissue from the bathroom garbage can. LOL.
March 6, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Tara, I’m so glad to hear Benny is doing so well! Hugs!