She's Gone

How is it that in no time at all, your life changes in a split second.

When checking my cell after church - I finally remembered to put it on silence this time - I found that there were four new messages.  That couldn't be good.  The last message was barely discernable, but after giving a good listen, I could tell that Farmer Rick was quite distressed.  The first thing that goes through  your mind is that he was injured and needed help.  Thank God we had given him a cell phone, I thought.  But when going over the message, I quickly found that he was calling about our new puppy.  Sandy.  She was gone.

To back up a step or two, we bought Sandy right before deer season last November.  What a joy!  The attachment that had developed between Farmer Rick and Sandy was quite evident.  Even though I did most of her training, you could tell that she was "dad's dog".  Her preferred spot on the hay bale while waiting for a milker change was always next to Farmer Rick.  Which was really what I had hoped for in the first place.  I had hoped that she would keep him company and provide companionship on the days that I had to work.  And that she did.  Even when I'd ride in the woods with the other dogs, she preferred to stay back by the house or barn if her buddy wasn't coming.

Well, today, after cleaning barn, Farmer Rick took the load of manure out to the field like he always does.  When returning, Sandy was waiting for him in the yard and came running across the arena to meet him in the driveway as he pulled in with the tractor and spreader.  You know how accidents happen, all so quickly, but yet in slow motion.  As Farmer Rick hit the brakes, Sandy hit a patch of ice and slid under the spreader tire. Farmer Rick quickly gathered her up in his arms and carried her up to the house.  He laid her on a blanket in the kitchen and went out to put the tractor away.  When he returned to the house, he collapsed on the floor right inside the door.  He knew Sandy wasn't going to make it.  She wimpered and drug herself over to him and laid in his lap as she drew her last breaths.  It just broke his heart.

To all who have lost a beloved animal, farm or no farm, no words can describe the loss of an animal that pefectly displays unconditional love.  We have so much to learn from them.

It's getting hard to write, too many tears on the keyboard.  Maybe tomorrow morning after chores, or the next day or two I'll again feel like writing . . .