GOOD GIRL!!

"GOOD GIRL"


Looking back, it seems now that the life in her eyes faded the same day her Master's did.

As my brother, Rodney, slept from the drug, morphine, in his favourite chair, he faced the shore road where he spent many years going to and from the sea. It was down there he'd take her to run and play in the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean. How she loved chasing the "stick" He'd throw it far and wide, relentlessly, while her black-haired, heavy body swam effortlessly to retrieve it. They'd play "catch & fetch" until both of them were too tired to do so anymore.

Tarley seemed to know his Master's limits and she'd sit quietly while he rested and reflected. She would wander away to shake herself dry and return to be petted and patted. "Good girl!" Rod would say and Tarley stood proud, walking slowly back to the house beside him, waiting now for the routine of getting her "treat". Then she'd doze off in the sunshine and keep an eye on things for them all.

Years had been spent going "ducking", boating, to Rod's two camps and to many week-ends at Bluegrass shows. Tarley and Rodney and Minnie, going down the highway in their camper, headed towards wherever life & good times with friends took them. On the road again.........

How she loved to lay in the shade, napping and waiting for her supper. She listened to their jokes, their songs, their laughter and she belonged. This was her family; she was loved.

But all good things must come to an end. I saw the hurt in her eyes in 2003 when she sat outside his window on their patio. Rod would look out at her and she'd look in at him. It broke my heart to watch and I couldn't, very often. I don't know which one of them looked the most lost.

After the cancer won the fight, and life was over for our dear brother, Tarley moped and grieved like our whole family did. Her life was never to be the same. Her lack of exercise and a thyroid condition worsened as time went by and it pained me to watch her try to climb the few steps to their home. Winter was hard for Tarley with the bitter cold and ice and so she was permitted inside the house to a porch where it was dry & warm.

Her eyes told the whole story: "I miss him." Two large, dark brown eyes sweetly welcomed me each time I arrived and waited patiently for a hug and the magic words "Good girl."

Today, March 20th, 2007 Tarley was put to sleep and her legs won't ache tonight. But my heart does as I feel not only the loss of a wonderful dog but a big piece of Rodney left with her when she closed those beautiful, brown eyes for the last time. What were her thoughts? I hope she knows how very treasured and honored we were to have known her.

I pray that somehow, someway, somewhere they are together again, playing "catch & fetch". "Good girl!!"