Oviya Ravi Week 12; Chasing Squirrels
I did not know what it meant to truly care for something with my entire heart until my family got a dog. While I obviously cared for my family, that was an innate feeling that I was never necessarily aware of; this was something else entirely. From the moment we brought her home, she trusted us and within days, I knew there was little that I wouldn’t do for her.
Dogs feel empathy at a level that we as humans should aspire to reach. Without even a single word, they can communicate so much love and comfort. Feeling Tashi dig her face under my arm to see what food I am holding in my hand has never failed to make me laugh. Hearing her sigh as if she has been working hard all day has never failed to bring a smile to my face. Opening my door every day after school to see her running up to greet me as if it has been days has never failed to remind me that I always have her on my side.
Tashi is now a necessary part of my family. The house feels empty whenever she is not home. The sound of her nails clacking against the floor boards, her fur covering every square inch of the house, and her toys spread out in every room are aspects of my daily life that would be evident if they were missing. She has listened to all my stories and sat by me through every major part of my life since that first day we brought her home. The bond I have with this dog is one that I will never experience with any other living thing in my lifetime; she does not need to do anything to be of comfort to me.
It makes me sad to think about the years I will have to experience without her once she is gone—the milestones I will reach without being able to have her by my side. The hole in my heart that will be left by her is one that I never want to fill; that ache a constant reminder of how grateful I should feel to have experienced love this strong. The color green will always remind me of the collar she was wearing when I first met her. Hearing a knife against a cutting board will always remind me of her eagerness for snacks. Balloons, the wind, apples, dish soap, backyard doors, squirrels, socks, and rolls of wrapping paper will always remind me of her. It is a powerful feeling to care about this deeply and to love this strongly, something that is so pure and untouched by all the bad in the world. There is so much that I would give to ensure endless time with her but no matter what, I will always be grateful for the years I have been gifted with that have her in them.
Hi Oviya! I can relate to this blog extremely well, as I, too, had a dog. Just the feeling of a dog in a home brings a presence I can’t find the words to describe. Every day for 13 years, I would hear his paw nails clicking against the tiled floor, his heavy panting after coming back inside, his bark every time the Ring went off, and his fur everywhere I looked. And suddenly, that stopped. Now, I have a cat, and I have been reminded of that similar feeling. Just a pet in general can lift my spirits, and I don’t know if that is due to psychological reasons or just my love for animals. There is such beauty in having a bond with an animal that you know is mutual, and the power it can have on one’s feelings. Whenever I am having a rough day, I turn to my cat and pick him up to smother him in kisses. Or when I sleep, he automatically climbs onto me to cuddle. I loved the way you wrote this blog and the descriptive imagery you used, and I, too, am endlessly grateful to be gifted the opportunity to create an irreplaceable bond with my dog and now a unique one with my cat.
ReplyDeletegreat stuff oviya
ReplyDeleteHello Oviya! I also have a dog (his name is Rocky) and I can't imagine my childhood without him. My family got him when I was in 6th grade, and it was the 2nd happiest moment of my life. Even now while I am writing this blog, he is sitting on my bed watching me; he probably wants to go on a walk. What is amazing is that humans can find a deep bond in other animals, not just humans. I think it is a beautiful thing that allows us to truly connect. Like you, I feel melancholy knowing that my dog will not be there for me later in life; his happy-go-lucky face won't last forever. And that is what makes me appreciate everything about him: his barking, his whining when he is hungry, the greetings I get every day when I come from school, and his comforting presence when I am sad.
ReplyDeleteThank you Oviya for sharing!
Having a pet to grow up alongside is precious, and with the way you describe all the memories you have with Tashi and the accomplishments she’s been there for is making me wish that I got my cat, Taffy, just a couple years earlier. But that would also mean that by now I’d be closer to the end of her being with me, I suppose. Sometimes time is a cruel thing.
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard not to borrow grief from the future, too, especially when your pet, whatever kind it may be, gets so integrated into your routine. I’ve never had a dog but, as I mentioned earlier, I do have a cat; even though they may not be as quick to trust as dogs, they definitely do still care about their owners and that is a hill I am willing to die on. Taffy greets me at the door in her own way like Tashi greets you, running over from wherever she is in the house to see what’s going on by the front door. She sleeps by my side sometimes, especially in winter, and I am grateful for her trust.
Regardless, it’s truly amazing how much good a creature can bring into your life, and we’re very fortunate as a species that we’re able to “pack bond” with animals completely different from us. Good job on your blog!