Remember your first dog, your first cat? Wasn’t it an incredible experience. How old were you? Did you get to pick out your first pet, or someone else in your family? We had a dachshund named Puddles, and I have no idea who picked him out or why. I don’t recall having kittens or cats, but there might have been one or two along the way.
As an adult, however, cats were always around–at least one of them. A couple of dogs came and went when my children were young, but in 2001, our journey with four sweet schnauzers began in earnest. And two white cats, Sidney and Lola, also had a significant presence from for 13 plus 16 years. A couple of years ago, I began to feel compelled to write about our experiences with these six special animals–how they came to us, the harsh downside of saying good-bye, and tricky decisions about when to say “yes” to the next pet.
Experiencing life through the eyes of our four-legged family members is not only instructive, it’s inspiring.
The picture above of Hannah, a white schnauzer of only three weeks old, was our third schnauzer. And looking back at her puppy pictures reminds me how quickly they mature and leave us. Seems like they are just settling in when something happens and they must depart.
Ever wondered, when it comes to the next cat or dog, if you have the courage to love again? It can be a daunting question.
Each pet, each animal, tells an unforgettable story–a life chapter, a frame around certain events and memories. Weaved into the fabric of our lives, we connect them to weddings, birthdays, funerals, and holidays. The very brevity of our time with a cat or a dog begs us to pay close attention–to see them, hear them, respect them. To hold them close to our hearts for as long as time permits. To remember their spirited ways, their peaceful eyes, and their generous affection for us–two-legged creatures still trying to grasp the real message of time, the inevitable connection between all living things.
My book, a new memoir coming this fall, will rekindle your memories in ways you can’t imagine. Seemingly insignificant moments with your dogs or cats that were actually most significant, in hindsight. We journey through life with “them” by our side–and that’s a very big deal. I look forward to hearing about some of your stories, as well. For now, here’s a photo of our first schnauzer, Noah, followed by Orion and Hannah and Georgia (above).
He actually inspired a blog post in 2010 called The Zen of Noah–you might enjoy it! A little bit funny, a little bit serious, as Noah’s ghost writer for that post, it helps us imagine how four-legged family members view the world around them. Granted, we don’t really know, but if we watch them closely, they’ll usually tell us a great deal about how they feel.
Thanks for stopping by. I will keep you updated on book title, cover release, and so on. In the meantime, if you have fun stories of “first dogs, first cats,” please share some in a comment. Every animal we’ve ever loved brings out something new, possibly unexpected, within us, right? ~
PS. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten our cats. More later!
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