All dogs are wonderful — let me start there. And if we are a Good Human, we embrace the dog who is in front of us, even if she doesn’t quite fit our vision of ideal. The perfect dog, after all, might want the perfect human.
Even though I am far from perfect, I was blessed with a perfect dog — it was Sparkle.
She was just so easy and smart and beautiful and kind. The only terrible thing Sparkle ever did was to leave, but even that was softer because she was almost 12.
On that Leaving Day, I whispered to her over and over, “please come back.”
I am not sure how any of this works. Is there really a Heaven? Are my girls waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge? Is our parting temporary or forever?
But we can hope and that helps, which is why we should not touch the faith of another person. Sometimes faith and hope are all that is holding someone upright — I know this well.
I named Starry after Sparkle: Kaibab’s Next Bright Sparkle Star. And every day I become more aware of how absolutely perfect that choice was, and I wonder — did Sparkle come back? Did she send this perfect replacement?
Or maybe the girls I loved so much and lost in less than one year — Claire, Harper, Sparkle and let’s not forget Daisy — got together to send this one small fluffy container of heart glue.
Again, I am not sure how this all works but I admit that sometimes I send silent gratitude to Sparkle for answering my heartbroken request. This puppy is next level Sparkle Dust.
Let’s set aside any political differences we may have for a minute so I can tell you that I took Starry to No Kings Day in Boise. She did so well at the dog show last weekend that I was confident she could handle a big crowd. I was right — see for yourself 🩷
❤️
Happy Sunday, Friend.