Lucy—2014-2026

 We lost our sweet Lucy yesterday. We are heartbroken.

We were eating breakfast with Kaitlin and Jon when my neighbor’s name popped up on my phone. My heart sank when I saw his name. Why would he be calling if not with bad news? When he came over to feed her yesterday morning her breathing was unsteady and she had lost use of her back legs. He FaceTimed me an image of her which I will never be able to get out of my mind. We made the decision to take her to the emergency Vet. We immediately began packing, hoping and praying that we would make it home in time to be with her, comfort her. We soon got a call from the Vet explaining her dire prognosis. They would make her comfortable until we arrived. About an hour into the trip home I suddenly had an overwhelming feeling that she wouldn’t make it. We were still four and a half hours away. A couple minutes later the Vet called with the news that Lucy had passed.

Twelve days ago I wrote a blog about Lucy. I had an encounter with her that made me keenly aware of how much she had aged. When I wrote it I didn’t think she wouldn’t survive the month of February, I was just feeling nostalgic for her earlier, more active days when she was a puppy, driving us absolutely crazy with her antics. Now, she’s gone. We are guaranteed nothing in this life.

After getting the call from the Vet we spent the rest of the trip trying to decide if we would go to the ER to say goodbye. Part of me didn’t want to. I didn’t want her dead body to be my last memory of her, neither did Pam. But we wanted to pick up her collar. Once we got there we both decided to sit with her for a minute or two. At this point I need to say what amazing care the Vet’s took with her. Their sensitivity and compassion will never be forgotten. Lucy looked so peaceful. We were able to tell her how much we loved her and what a very good girl she had always been.

Our neighbors also deserve a word at this point. The Garland’s have known Lucy since she was a puppy. All of them have taken care of her on countless trips Pam and I made over the years when we couldn’t take Lucy with us. Kennedy, their middle child especially loved her. Thankfully, she was playing in a basketball tournament yesterday morning and wasn’t the one who found Lucy. Her dad Stu was the one who called me with the news. His steadiness and kind heart calmed me.

Last night I spent the better part of three hours combing through the hundreds of pictures we have taken of Lucy over the years. I’m not sure they helped or hurt, but I couldn’t stop looking. The photos I posted of her on Facebook were from last July, her final trip to Maine. She was so happy, full of delight in her favorite place with her favorite people. We will take her ashes up when we go this summer. The lake will be her final resting place.

My sweet neighbor Jamie told me that when she lost her dog last year it was so devastating. She couldn’t believe that this was the third time we had endured the loss of a golden. I thought about that observation for a moment and then answered. I had heard Pam talking with my sister earlier when she brought over a meal for us. (That’s what Paula does, and we are so grateful). She said words to the effect of—In this life we only shed tears over people we love. When you love someone it comes with a price, that one day they will pass and break your heart. But it’s a price I would pay over and over again because of what these loved ones bring to your life. It is worth every penny.

Rest in Peace, sweet girl.