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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

SOL Day 11: More Stories about Jackson



Two Writing Teachers have written about the Slice of Life on their blog.  Head on over and check it out!

About one year and 3 days ago, we had to say goodbye to this sweet face:


Jackson was with us for almost 14 years, living to be almost 15 years old.  


Last night we were talking about dogs with our house guest and this story came up.  Perfect for a fresh-spring-is-coming-night:

In this house, when you can't sleep; you end up on The Couch.  It is happening less and less for me as I chill out in my old age; but my husband finds himself here often. (Falling asleep is tricky.) 

One of the best things about Jackson was if you couldn't sleep, he was with you.  Naturally, he slept under the covers in our bed, often pushing both of us until he got the space he needed.  

But if one of us ended up on the couch, Jackson was by your side in an instant.  He would wait a few moments after you were out of bed, and if you didn't come back, he would roam the house until he found you.  

Before the best part happened, he could take one lap around the main floor.  I can still hear the click-clicking of his toenails.  (He was so feisty we didn't really have them clipped when he got older.) 

Then, the best part would happen:  He would jump up at your feet.  Find the space behind your knees, squeeze up next to you as tight as he could, and curl up with his head on your lower back.   

Then, he would take this deep, cleansing breath in the way that only an old dog can do.  (No joke, it sounds funny I know.)  His breath would remind me to breathe too.  

Sometimes, those were the best nights of sleep.  

Joy!

Kendra

5 comments:

  1. Sweet memories of a sweet puppy! Sounds like you could fill the rest of the days of this challenge with stories about him.

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  2. Sophie does this,too - big, deep breath which just fills everyone in the room with a sense of happy peace. Jackson will always be with you.

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  3. Sophie does this,too - big, deep breath which just fills everyone in the room with a sense of happy peace. Jackson will always be with you.

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  4. I'm sorry for the loss of your dog, however it is so wonderful that you still tell Jackson stories. That's what we do with loved ones - we keep them with us in our heart and in our words.
    Love the couch story!

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  5. It's the sweetest of memories, those old pets, Kendra. My daughter lost her wonderful cat just a year ago & we were just remembering her. My daughter said she read that the memory of touch & sound are stronger than most anything. One can remember them long after the other memories disappear. I loved the part about the click-click of Jackson's toenails!

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