The younger Daughter begged her mother for a little dog.
The Mother said "No, it would be too much work.”
And the younger Daughter said she would help and please could they have a little dog.
And the Mother said, “No, it’s not fair to our old cat.”
….
And the Daughter decided that her life was too hard for her and she ended it.
And the Mother wept;
The Mother was grateful for the life of her daughter and the privilege of knowing her Daughter and raising her for twenty-three years of her life.
….
The Mother’s older sister went to visit her friend in Colorado, a service dog trainer.
The next morning the friend, the service dog trainer, said, “I had a dream last night.”
“I dreamed that your sister’s Daughter has sent a dog to watch out for her mother, your sister.”
The Older Sister was amazed, as the Dog Trainer did not know that the Mother had just adopted a little Multipoo, named Molly.
And the Mother and the Sister knew that this was a gift from the Daughter.
The Dog was a rescue who was thin and was abandoned after having a litter of 5 pups which they sold and left town; leaving her behind.
The people insisted that the Mother must take this abandoned dog.
And it was so.
And the Dog brought much joy to the Mother and all those around her.
The Mother trained the Multipoo as a Therapy dog.
And it was good.
The Dog and the Mother went to visit the Grandmother in the nursing home everyday.
And the Grandmother loved the Dog.
The Dog and the Mother went to visit the Mother-in-law in her nursing home every week.
And the Mother-in-Law loved the Dog.
And the Dog and the Mother went to the Older Daughter’s Kindergarten class every Friday.
And the Kindergarten children loved the Dog.
The Dog and the Mother went on many trips together…Colorado, Florida, Wisconsin
And the Mother loved the Dog.
The Dog and the Mother went everywhere together. The Dog loved to ride along in the car.
And the Mother planned her errands around the Dog.
And it was good.
….
It began with the Dog being slightly breathless.
Each day the shortness of breath increased…for only 3 days
The Dog was up all night panting. The Mother was up with the dog, soothing her and telling her she loved her.
The Mother called the emergency vet.
No room in the inn.
7:00 another Emergency Vet opens.
The mother cradles the Dog in the blanket and comes to the door.
The Dog is whisked back to be evaluated while the Mother fills out paperwork.
The Vet explains that the Dog is in Heart Failure and collapsed during the Xray.
The Dog is cold and is in an incubator with oxygen.
This is not good.
The Mother asks to please be with her beloved dog.
They bring the incubator into the exam room with the oxygen hissing.
The Dog is panting. The Mother reaches into the isolette and pets the dog, murmuring soft words of love and encouragement.
The Dog looks at the Mother with her old milky eyes, shifts as if to get up to greet the Mother.
Then the Dog lays her head back down.
A few agonal breaths.
The Mother calls out to the Vet,
“She is going. She has decided on her own that it is time.”
“It is time to go…”
She breathes no more.
And the Mother and Older Daughter wept.
…
Many of you have met Miss Molly, and loved Miss Molly. My beloved Miss Molly has come full circle.
Maybe chasing rabbits and sniffing out mice on the other side of the veil.
A wonderful gift to be treasured and remembered.