Spring Break
March 16, 2009 He's on spring break this week, just like many of you all over the country. However, unlike most of you all over the country, he's NOT happy about it.
He's sullen. He's pouting. He's sad.
Burley usually goes to work with my husband at the resort most days of the week, and he loves it. Every morning when Mr. Blue Eyes is getting ready to go, Burley trots along behind him, making sure that he doesn't forget to take him along.
At the resort, in such a beautiful mountain valley, Burley is completely at home. He trots around, stalks squirrels, begs for bacon outside the restaurant kitchen door, and takes naps in the gift shop. He quite literally basks in the glow of the sunshine and beauty.
Sometimes he gets charged by the occasional moose or runs a coyote out of the meadow to steal its carcass for his own.
But that's really only on occasion. Most days, it's the lap of luxury, as far as he's concerned.
This week, because it IS spring break, we decided that he had better stay home with me. Even though he's good with guests and other dogs, when there's that many people mulling around, we'd just rather not take the risk of some random incident.
Not that he ever bites people or anything, but sometimes he gets excited with all the activity, and his deep, ominous bark alone is enough to scare some dog-wary yahoo into suing us for heart palpitations or some such other nonsense.
So he's banished to the nether regions of our homestead for the week, and let me tell you, watching him mope around is down right depressing.
The thing is, I think he's bummed about not getting to go to work, but I also think there's something else bringing him down. Kind of like when I have some quiet moments and start to reflect on the loss of my Dad, I think that Burley starts to think about her...
He remembers her hairless facial wrinkles and primordial claws, and how she used to slobber all over him and how they'd race around the yard together, and his whole outlook just hits a concrete wall and everything gets a little out of focus.
Don't worry, Lola didn't die. A couple months ago, we had some church friends who lost their dog unexpectedly. We always talked about our dogs together, and whenever we would, I always thought about how much they would love Lola if they ever met her.
One day while driving home from church a couple weeks after their dog's death, it struck me how much I knew they really would love her, and how much she would love living with them. We loved her so much and the thought of relegating her to someone else had never crossed my mind until that moment. However, I guess I just knew that giving her to them would be such an amazing blessing for all parties involved, which is why I brought it up to Mr. Blue Eyes and we began to consider it.
We knew that they were home a lot and how much they just loved and babied their dogs. We also knew that Lola really wanted to be devoted to someone 24/7, and that with Mr. Blue Eyes working and me so busy all the time with kids and house and who-knows-what-else, we weren't giving her as much time as she wanted.
You know how some dogs just really want to be someone's best friend, their only one, their devoted companion? That was Lola.
We knew that these people had the time and love to give that to her.
So, I think you can guess the rest of the story. She now lives with them, so happy and as beloved as she really wanted to be. She also has two little dog companions that she thoroughly enjoys and loves. She's with them all the time and they all just love on her and we know it couldn't be a better situation for her.
On the flip-side, we just can't help but miss her, and I know that Burles misses her especially. Like the rest of us, when he goes to work and keeps his mind occupied it doesn't hurt so much. But on days like today, when he has a little time to recall his sweet, somewhat hairless love, it sure does get him down.
Sorry, bud. We'll try to make it up to you. In the meantime, there's still someone who'll snuggle with you...
Reader Comments (3)
Poor Burley! He wants to go work with Dad....
What a sweet dog! Maybe Lola can come for a visit once in awhile... poor guy. :)
Oh, how selfless of you guys to give Lola the perfect family. Hope Burles perks up soon.
Loved the photos.