Taking Time to Remember

Last Thursday was one of those beautiful spring days that you wish would last forever. The sky was crystal blue; the birds were singing and there was a light breeze rustling the leaves in the trees.  It had been a good day at work, but I noticed a shift in Doc’s mood as she took me to the veterinarian’s office to have my nails trimmed.

When we got there, the vet tech took me in the back, they trimmed my nails and then brought me back out to the waiting room to Doc. After she paid for the visit and engaged in some friendly chit chat and we walked toward the door. As we were leaving, she asked one of the vet techs in a quiet voice, “Would it be alright if Walter and I went out back? Tomorrow will be a year since I brought Grover in to be put to sleep out by the barn and I would just like to take a moment.”  Without hesitation she replied, “Of course.”

As we walked through the gate and stood under the tree where Doc had lain with Grover on the blanket a year ago, I remained quiet and stayed by her side.Doc is teaching me that there will be times in our lives where feelings of grief from the past can be triggered and that we need to honor them. I often hear Doc tell her patient’s, “Don’t let anyone tell you how you should grieve, everyone has their own journey, and no one knows your process better than you.

On the drive home Doc was quiet and on Friday, the anniversary of Grover’s death, I could tell she was feeling sad. When we got home, I cuddled up next to her on the couch and she told me all the things she was feeling. Sometimes a good dog is the best therapist.

I think I am learning that you can move forward from loss, but that the person or animal that you loved and are grieving will stay in your heart.