Indie – precious black lab angel…almost 12 years old.
She’s gone. She’s the first one I was with in their passing. Soul friend. Indie. The one who breathed with me in my laughter and my tears.
Ode to Indie
You came unexpectedly into our lives
And that first night when you cried
And I came and held you
And you snuggled your face into my neck
We connected
I held you
And later, as the years went on
You held me
…in so many ways…
You attuned yourself to my rhythms
And lived your days accompanying me
With stillness,
With walks in the woods
With children coming for lessons
With circles of women
You were kind
Often sitting by the one
Who needed you most
So kind
A beautiful presence
To come home to
Always greeting me with a smile
And ready for a walk if I opened the door
And accepting when it was time to stay home.
You didn’t complain
Even when you were in so much pain
I didn’t know you were suffering to the degree you were
I’m sorry
But…thank you…
Thank you for wanting to stay as long as you did
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving those I love
Thank you for breathing with me
It was a gift to breath with you
At the end until
Your last breath
Face to face
Eye to eye
Breath to breath
Until you were gone
But you’re not gone
Not really…but it is different
And I will miss feeding you each morning
And your little kiss on my hand as I put your food in your dish
You always said, ‘thank you’
I will miss hearing your footsteps as you would wander into
My room in the early morning hours to be close
I will miss your face as I wake up and you would be
Sitting by my side ready for me to get up
I will miss you sitting under the piano for each
Student and being a footrest for the wee ones
I will miss your companionship in the trails
I will miss your glee at the joy of a stick
I will miss your presence
Every day
