Just a good story! Maybe 2! :)

I first want to thank Miriam for forwarding me this story and her support on Sunday.  As soon as I read this, I had to post it here!  🙂  Also a special thanks to Stubby who helped me through a dark time also on Sunday.   And a BIG thank you to Pat and Rick, Chief’s former owners who came by to see him, once again on Sunday!  One more special thank you to my neighbor Stephanie who brought Gator out to see Chief on Saturday.  Chief has been eating ever since these events, please keep that energy coming for both of us!  🙂  More on Chief after the story. 

Those that know me are aware of the special bond I have with my dogs Chief and Mia, and a recent passed “Fuzzy Buddy” named Smokey Dawg who gave me 13 wonderful years…….others may just think I’m nuts, but they don’t realize how much love you can find with a dog or any pet.  It’s just so pure and unconditional!   But it’s not just the love, if your eyes and mind are open enough you can learn a LOT about life from them.  They live in the moment, they don’t worry about what will happen next, or what happened yesterday or even 10 minutes ago. 

Here’s the story……

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This really is a great story!  Lucky Dog…. Anyone who has pets will really like this. You’ll like it even if you don’t and you may even decide you need one!

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named Lucky. Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky’s toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky’s other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease….in fact; she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky.  A thought struck her…what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary’s dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won’t understand that I didn’t want to leave him! The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable. Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn’t even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.. Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn’t come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.

When Mary woke for a second she couldn’t understand what was wrong. She couldn’t move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It’s been 12 years now, and Mary is still cancer-free.

Lucky, he still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

Remember……live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget….the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.

Live simply.. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. A small request All you are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it is only to one more person, in memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer or is still fighting their battle.

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Well that’s the story, now for mine. 

I’ve personally lost a father, the other grandparents to my grandchildren, Bob and Mary Read, and my beloved Smokey Dawg, all to cancer.   If you would like to help fight cancer, please see my current special, just click on the Specials page to the right!  🙂 

Chief hasn’t been feeling good lately, he stopped eating and has lost a lot of weight in a short time.  He’s 11, yes but he is very strong in spirit, he is a Siberian Husky and just beautiful in both appearance and spirit.  He is a retired therapy dog, and has helped a lot, and I mean a LOT of people overcome their illnesses!  He has helped me see things in a different light and during these last couple weeks has tought me a tremendous amount about positive energy and love! 

I was getting frustrated at my computer the other day and Chief sensed this and came up to me, nudged me as if to say take a break.  He did this despite his weak state, and I was like wow!  Ok buddy let’s go for a short walk!  Everything was better! 

Just this past weekend, I was feeling really sad about my buddy Chief and his weakness from not wanting to eat.  My energy seemed to be totally drained.  Mia came up to me and just layed down in front of me as if to say everything will be ok.  When I went inside, she went over to Chief and nudged him as if to tell him everything was going to be ok!  He then ate a little bit. 

The next day Stephanie next door brought Gator out to the fence and let Chief sniff, see and “talk” to her.  LoL Chief and Gator have a bond with each other also.  🙂  Really cute to see!  Chief came inside and ate!  🙂

Chief’s original owners Pat and Rick came by for a visit Sunday night, Chief knew they were there before they could get up the steps, he was already standing at the door and waiting for them….loving energy in its purest form!  After they left he ate, then two hours later ate again, and he has been eating ever since!  I’m really hoping this is a trend toward recovery! 

The vets think he may have the C word, and this may be true, but I don’t “feel” that is the case.  I just don’t get that energy from him.  What I do get is confusion, and uneasiness and a sense of missing Smokey, who he was really close with. 

The final chapter hasn’t been written yet, but hopefully with a lot of  love and positive energy, Chief will be back up and taking long walks soon!  I can “see” him becoming a Therapy Dog once again!  I think Mia can become a Therapy Dog also, she is such a loving and caring spirit herself!  For now, I’m just thrilled Chief seems to be eating again! 

No matter what happens, Chief has given me some precious lessons about life, and a whole lot of love!   For now I’m taking in each precious moment of our time together and my time with Mia!   Also going to work harder at being in the moment with my Son, his Wife, and those two precious grandchildren of mine.  And all the wonderful friends and clients that have touched my life!   I’ve learned a lot of lessons from a lot of unexpected sources these last few weeks including one from my son, Joseph!  Thank you! 

Chief

Mia

Smokey

As always, hope you are having a great day!
Carl
Visions Photography – Go Beyond the Snapshot, YOU deserve something special!
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