11 Things I Learned From My Dog in 11 Years
I like to think that I picked Oakley that day but the truth is he picked me. The first time I seen a weenie dog I was in the 3rd grade and an old man was taking his long bodied friend for a walk. I was given permission to pet him and as I knelt down to pat his sweet head, I made a promise to myself that I would one day have one of my own. Fast forward 16 years and it was time to get a family pet. We looked all over and met spunky Beagles and crazy Jack Russell Terriers but I already knew what I wanted. I found an ad in the paper in Las Vegas, Nevada and we went to check out the brand new litter of puppies. When I went into their home the first thing I seen was his mom and dad run through the kitchen and what looked like a train of puppies chasing after them. The caboose rounded the corner and he was running so quickly his behind kept catching up to his front and it was the most awkward and adorable thing I have ever laid eyes on. I took one look at him and exclaimed, "He's the One!" He crawled into my hair on the ride home and fell asleep on my chest next to my heart. From that day forward, I was never the same.
He was my constant through all the twist, turns and changes that over 11 years of life can bring. Oakley was our unwavering source of unconditional love and acceptance. He was our teacher. We cared for his needs and loved on him but it pales in comparison to what he taught me about life, love and hope.
1. Love: Love is all there is. There are only two real emotions in this world that all other emotions derive from. Love and Fear. Oakley chose to live his life everyday created in love. There was never any space for anything else. He was like a magnet for people & dogs and they just wanted to be near him. He loved himself and everyone for exactly who they were and exactly who they weren't.
2. Passion or Bust: If it was basking on the deck in the sun or eating popcorn. He did everything with passion or he simply did not do it.
3. Humility: For some humility is seen as a weakness. But for Oakley he taught me it is the very core of our being. To give all of yourself and expect nothing in return. Oakley put others needs in front of his own in a way that it was his honor serve.
4. Forgiveness: He never held a grudge and reminded me that forgiveness was not for the other person or action that caused pain. To either accept forgiveness from another or ask for forgiveness it is a gift and the direct access to love and peace.
5. The Present is a Gift: Every morning we wake up is the first day of the rest of our life. Keep it simple and peel away the busyness to really find joy in what's important to you. Oakley lived in the moment there was never a yesterday to regret or a tomorrow to worry about.
6. Humanity: Family, friends and our relationships are the very essence of our existence. Treat everyone with the same level of respect that you would give to your great grandmother and the patience you would have for your newborn child. Oakley is the very definition of unconditional love.
7. Who Cares: It doesn't matter what other people think. When you're worried about what others think of you, you're just worried about what you think of yourself. Oakley was considered obese by the scale but for him and us he was simply more to love. He would draw a crowd wherever he went and people just had to stop and meet him. He left them with his confidence and love.
8. Eat Dessert First: Rules and routines are sometimes made to be broken. Dishes left in the sink and the laundry still unfolded. It will all be there when you get done savoring a slice of sweetly frosted cake that is life.
9. Naps: They are good for your soul. Take time to dream and rest and no matter if you bask in the sun or snuggle up in your bed in the middle of the afternoon. Oakley is the quintessence of the art of napping.
10. Fall apart: Sometimes it's ok to fall to pieces. Cry when you need to and he will be right there by your side holding your heart.
11. Life: It is fragile, precious, and shorter than it often time seems. Right in this moment, someone is planning some minor detail for tomorrow without realizing they're going to die today. Never let a moment go by that you have the chance to tell someone what they mean to you.
Oakley
October 2000 - February 2012
Born a Dog - Died a Gentleman
With gratitude and love,
Mickie Shaw Freund
Chad Freund
Presley Gallegos
Marcus Gallegos
Madison Shaw
Parker Gallegos
WE LOST OUR SECOND MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY TODAY
ODIE A SMART BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CHIHUAHUA AND TERRIER WE FOUND HIM
AND ADOPTED HIM A SHORT TIME AFTER LOSING BRUISER IN 2010. HE
WAS A HYPER THING HAD BEEN CAGED SO LONG, I LOVED HIM AT FIRST
SITE. AND HAS BEEN WITH US AS OUR GRANDSON HAS GROWN UP TO 3 1/2
YEARS. CARSON WAS JUST GETTING OLD ENOUGH TO PLAY WITH HIM AND
LOVED HIM SO. ODIE HAD ONE VICE THAT WE COULD NOT STOP AND THAT
WAS TO RUN AFTER CARS AS THEY LEFT I HAD LEFT HIM IN THE HOUSE
BUT CARSON HEARD HIM SCRATCHING AND LET HIM OUT I HAD HELD FOR
WHILE THEN HE FOUGHT TO GET DOWN AND MY NEPHEW AND SON WERN'T
LEAVING JUST YET MY HUSBAND AND CARSON WERE OUTSIDE AND ODIE RAN
AFTER THE CAR AND WAS RAN OVER AND LATER DIED. I WILL MISS HIM
SO AS DOES MY HUSBAND WE ARE KEEPING WITH US TONIGHT AND PLAN
FOR CREMATION TOMMORROW AS WE WANT BRUISER AND ODIE PUT TO REST
WITH US. THE STORY THE BRIDGE IS THE ONLY THING THAT GOT ME THRU
THE LAST LOSE OF BRUISER AS I AM SURE WILL BRING ME PEACE WITH
LOSING ODIE MY SWEET PRECIOUS BOYS I WILL NEVER FORGET. I THANK
GOD FOR LETTING US HAVE THEM IF ONLY FOR SHORT TIME. SOMEDAY WE
WILL BE IN PEACE TOGETHER ONCE MAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE AND WE CALL
THEIR NAMES WE WILL BE TOGETHER AGAIN. PLEASE IF NOTHING ELSE
READ BE SURE IF YOU HAVE A PET THAT YOU MAKE SURE TO TRAIN THEM
TO STAY AWAY FROM CARS AND TO LOVE LITTLE CHILDREN. GOD BLESS
ODIE AND BRUISER MY BABIES.
To the greatest love of my life, Oreo, thank you for being such a special dog whom was loved by everyone. My heart is broken and just aches for you to be in my arns again. I am so lonely and the house is so empty without you. You were my world and my reason for living. No dog could be as wonderful as you nor ever replace you in my heart. I miss your kisses in the morning, our daily walks to the park, you waiting for me at the top of the stairs excited to see me come home and watching you eat your favorite foods, broccoli and cheerios. I hope you are in a better place now and are no longer suffering. Thank you for giving me the ten best years of my life. Your loving memory will always live in my heart. I will forever love you and miss you, My Big Bunny Man. Goodbye my sweet, precious boy.
Love and Kisses Always,
MaMa
Otis my love, I will never forget the day we met. I put a deposit on your sister but when I got to Delaware she was in the hospital and you were the only puppy left. Marge went and got you and you came running to me and sat down at my feet and looked up at me with the most amazing eyes. I put my hand down by your paw and asked you "If I take you home, do you promise to never pee on my walls or on my furniture?" You tilted your head and put your tiny paw in my hand. I said "it's a deal." Marge, your breeder said, "You're not going to hold him to that, are you?" I said "Absolutely" and off we went back to New York. You never broke your promise. You always used your wee wee pads when we couldn't go out for a walk. The minute that I met you, i knew you were special. You had the most amazing soul. I also knew that when your time came, it would be the deepest hurt of my life. I have never loved anyone, except Pop Pop Hy, human or animal as much as I love you. Thank you for taking care of me when I was sick. After my back surgeries, I would come home and you would gently rest your head right over my incision. I'm sorry that you never got to participate in 'Project Read'. I just wish that I could have been by your side when you passed but you had to have the MRI to find out why you started having seizures. No one anticipated that your trachea would collapse when they took out your breathing tube. I want you to know that you made these past 8 1/2 years the happiest years of my life. I know that your spirit is still here helping me take care of Molly, Sebastian and Sadie. Have fun playing with Daisy. One day we will all be together again. You will always be my special boy and now my guardian angel. I will love you forever.
Otto, 8/01/2011 - 2/10/2012
Otto, we will miss you forever. Your happy face and beautiful eyes.
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