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| Cody at Choir Practice |
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| Brand new puppy Dudley, first photo |
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| Napping Dudley |
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| Cody |
But the corporal remains provide only a kind of closure that creates the illusion that physical presence was the only thing. The box is no real comfort, except to remind me of the concrete reality of Cody's existence. He really WAS. His spirit, however, remains in the countless reminders of his still unfamiliar absence. It remains in his favorite tartan plaid blanket, his food and water dishes decorated with tiny paw prints, in his favorite chair, on the brick path in the garden where he loved to sun himself and play.
His spirit resides even now in the barking of other neighborhood dogs, in the white fur that is left in his brush, in his collar, and on the leather leash that made him leap with excitement, even into old age, at the thought of a happy stroll with me. It is in the nose prints on the inside of my car windows, summoning again his insatiable energy, curiosity, and love of everything and everybody around him.
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| Dudley |
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| Cody |
Events after Cody's death made me see something remarkable in the healing process (which continues). I contacted Cody's breeder in Iowa to let her know of his passing, as she and I have kept in contact over the years. I asked if there might be any litters of Westies coming up. Her reply came as a huge but happy surprise, that she was going to retire from breeding and showing West Highland White Terriers but that there was indeed a recent litter with four pups. Three were spoken for, but there was one male left, which several people wanted. She said she didn't know why she had hesitated to sell the dog to anyone yet, despite several requests.
The pups were born the very day Cody died (July 17, 2009), and the father's name is Cody 2. Can you believe how fortunate I was in this perfect timing? And what are the odds for these things falling together so well at just the right time? I bought the puppy and named him Dudley after an angel played by Cary Grant in the 1947 film THE BISHOP'S WIFE, one of my favorite movies.
Dudley was not be ready to travel to Colorado from Iowa until late September, as he was at the time only three weeks old. Jim drove me there to bring Duds home. I was so grateful that all this happened. It was almost as though Cody's spirit had somehow been involved and perhaps even resided in that puppy that I was meant to have. My priority continues to be accepting and nurturing of Dudley’s personality and traits without comparing him with Cody (a very tough act to follow).
People sometimes feel a strange kind of guilt at mourning their deceased cats and dogs. I don’t know why. Our bond with pets is extremely powerful and fulfilling. The extraordinary and unconditional love we receive in return for meeting their simple needs is surely one of God’s greatest gifts in this life. The most important thing, as it is in our bonds with the humans in our lives, is to appreciate and love our pets, giving all the care and attention we can, before the time is up, and we are parted. If you are lucky enough to have a cat or dog, embrace the gift of that wondrous bond in every way you can. Celebrate it every day. If you don't have a pet but are willing and able to love and care for one, there are animal shelters everywhere with loving creatures waiting for your visit and ready to enrich your life beyond what you can even imagine. JB
