Category: Dogs

the last month of 2024

whbeebe

It’s been two weeks since Ruby was put to sleep, and I’ve gone from the shock of the loss to peaceful acceptance far faster than I’ve ever experienced such a loss. It’s not because I loved Ruby less, but because I’m a lot older now than the last time I experienced such a loss with Max, together with Lucy, back in 2015. I was still gainfully employed and still traveling, so I felt a much stronger need to find a companion for then-living Ruby, who was seven at the time. That’s how we came to rescue Annie. But now that I’m retired (and have been for a good four years) I’ve discovered that I can occupy Annie’s time fully, with multiple daily walks and having her with me throughout the day as I work inside and outside the house. We even take her for car trips when we run short errands.

Annie absolutely loves it. She’s gone from feeling her loss for Ruby to being a joyful part of the household with her humans. We fill her days and she fills ours. As a consequence we’ve put off adopting a second dog as Annie’s companion. I don’t know how much longer Annie will be with us, or if we’ll ever adopt a second along with Annie. We may let Annie finish living a natural life and then just keep the cats. Only time will tell at this point.

This is probably the last quiet month before 2025 and the transfer of power to the 47th president of the United States. The November election was a shock to be sure. I have no idea what will happen for the next four years starting 20 January, but you can rest assured it won’t be good for anyone except the very few at the top.

I have no idea how I’ll react and resist, but it won’t be noisy like the start of 2017. We all saw how that worked out. 2024 will be be the start of my personal quietude, where silent strength and silent activity are the watch phrases.

Quietude does not mean cowardice.

mourning

whbeebe1 Comment
Annie Waiting For Someone to Return

Ruby left us physically on Monday. Her loss has been felt all week to everyone, human and animal alike. Her companion Annie has felt it most keenly. I’ve been working diligently to engage with Annie, taking her on multiple walks, letting her pick the route through the neighborhood as well as the distance. Even at nine years Annie is still full of energy and playfulness, but you can see how she wanders around the house and yard looking for Ruby. Ruby’s scent is still around this place and will be for some time, so that’s going to stretch out this process.

The Date Ruby Left

I’m keeping these as keepsakes of Ruby’s passing. I didn’t realize it until I looked closely, but there’s a Christmas tree on the calendar date. I had hoped that perhaps Ruby might stay with us one more Christmas, but nature called her well before that. But I felt it appropriate that coincidence had the calendar publisher print the date of her passing with a Christmas tree. I think I’ll plant some white narcissus now like the calendar entry says so that when they bloom at Christmas, they’ll represent Ruby in spirit.