
Hello all and sundry,
It’s good to have you back! Can you believe it’s 2025?! For me, every new year seems unreal, like where did the last year, the last YEARS, all go?! Now that I am older, it seems to hit even harder and feel all the more surreal. Well, pondering over the movement of time, I am heading into this new year beginning with poems about pets and place, those that have impacted my life.
Pets have always been a part of mine from the first I remember…must have been about three or four when we had a pup named Fluffy. Pretty sure I named her; my little sis being only 2 at the time. Then, there were others: Tiffany, Gypsy, Shaker, and Boots. Those first two and the last were ‘shared’ dogs, but once pushing through therapy at the age of 11 (abuse from Mom’s second husband) the dogs Gypsy and Shaker, and a cat named Mandy, were mine. My responsibility and my support. I would not have survived with any sanity without them. This is one reason I wrote about them so much, I suppose. Our pets are truly God’s gift of the most loyal and unconditional, loving companionship; in truth, we know our loved humans will always falter. Looking back, I have been immensely blessed to have had the most perfect of pets.
Whiskey, a shepherd-coyote cross, came when I was 17 and just when she was old enough to be with me, I turned 18 and moved out of my parent’s house to gain necessary independence. A friend’s dog had had a litter and Whiskey was 8 out of 111 9 out of 12 pups. I was there during her birthing and we were connected immediately. I have had more dogs since, yet she was truly one in a million! I’ll be sharing more writing about our bond as time goes on. Years ago I submitted a short story about her for an anthology about departed pets, and it was the FIRST paid publishing of my writing! You will get to read it at the end of the month! Whiskey, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge on January 5, 1998, was my constant, and traveled with me SO many places. We journeyed 11 years together over thousands of miles and stood in millions of spaces.
Places have also been a really grounding space for me as well. The places called home, the places of retreat, the places of escape, the places that whispered their history up through my feet, all have left their image etched on my soul. I often wrote about them as well in—want—to capture the peace, and sometimes the sorrow, that spoke to me there. I have posted about some already, and will bring you more this month and going forward. Will be wonderful sharing with you these ‘points of interest’.
Now, here is a poem about my sweet Whiskey. If you have been reading my poetry for a while now, you’re probably thinking, this dog sounds familiar? Well, I did include something about her in an earlier poem with a picture and I’ll link it at the bottom of this post for a revisit, or, if you haven’t read it and you’re new here, so that you can. Hope you get a blessing from them both.
Many blessings and MUCH LOVE,
~Wendy💜
PS. Here is a photo of that notebook page and the photos I put with the poem. A typed version follows.
In Memory of Whiskey
She would have Been here, With me, Running along River's shore, Hoping for sticks Thrown, shaking Off icy water In wait. Her voice, dog shouts of 'Throw it again, Mom!' I would sit, in pause, Pen and notebook at my lap, Watching as she Traveled water's edge In search of A smell to tingle her nose. I would write about Her security; absent now. Absent. Frequently, I look over My shoulder, Unconscious fear, Conscious lack of protection. She made it safe To be alone, However un-lonely. Eleven years had Flown by. So many rivers, So many sticks, So many smiles, So many rides home Inhaling sweet aroma Of wet dog. I throw a stick Still, For her memory. She is with me, I know. But... How I wish I could feel her nose Lift my hand For a pet; Reminding me, 'It's late... Shouldn't we head home?' W. Gray Jan. 5, 1998
If you also have or have had a treasured pet, I would love to hear about yours! Our special stories about how they have touched our lives should be enjoyed and shared.
Added 1-12-25: Must apologize here for the memory error of numbers. Can I say I am getting, well, older?! Having gone to creating another post about Whiskey, I am including in the Featured Writer for January 2025 post my first published short story, I realized in the rereading of that story that I misremembered the litter numbers! Whiskey was actually number 9 out of 12 pups! How I got off by a number, WHO KNOWS?!!!! But, I did. Chalk it up to a head full of pets and their details swishing all around together or it could be autoimmune brain fog, still, more likely, it is the advance in my mileage! Whatever the culprit, I will graciously give my apologies and correct my mental error. Appreciate the understanding! Blessings and MUCH LOVE, ~Wendy💜🤗🧠👵🏼⌛
Wendy, I have two tailed friends, Tiger and Laila, German Shepherds that have turned 12 this year. From extremely strong, fierce yet innocuous, dangerous for strangers yet extremely innocent for us, from barking to be playful all the time, from fearless yet mischievous; they have turned old and fragile. They stay with my younger brother as he brought them as pups, but whenever I visited them, we had a ball of time. I stay involved with them wholly and miss them fondly. I fear of losing them, but it is inevitable and this time when I met them, I expressed my heartfelt gratitude to them mentioning that they made me learn what pure affection and silent care are all about. It seemed they understood every word and the way we cuddled each other was beyond imagination.
I can very well understand your deep bond with Whiskey who stayed by your side for eleven glorious years. Her physical absence is truly an irreparable loss, but her fondest memories are priceless and make you feel her presence all around.
These incredible beings make us better humans in every respect. Thank you, Wendy.
It is such a wonderful remembrance of a great dog, Wendy. I'm sorry for your loss. I know we never forget our pets. My childhood dog died in 1988, and I still think about her.