#03 Rocco's Last Ride
The places we go to say goodbye
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV
«Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.»
I got to the trails early one morning last week. When I pulled up to the spot where I usually park, there was an SUV with the tailgate opened. As I pulled up beside it, I thought to myself, WTH, my spot is as far out of the way and into the woods as one could get. Why now, this early, and why here, my spot.
I shook off the irritation, put on my headphones so that I wouldn’t have to speak to whomever it was if they were to come to sight.
Wiggles and I walked around the tank, eyes averted from it and focused on the trail head for which we were headed.
Just before we got to the trail head a man that was seated in the back of the SUV emerges to his feet and says something to me. I looked him in the eye and took off one earbud, visibly, intentionally irritated I was.
Thinking he was going to have something smart to say about Wiggles being off leash in a public space. Mind you the irritation is because this is precisely why we come to this far off niche of the woods. To avoid these types of interactions.
So, he repeats “enjoy your walk with him, their time is shorter than ours”. He was referring to my dog Wiggles, my demeanor and posture changed. He was a dog human. I have an affinity towards dog humans, they hold a special place of respect, responsibility and empathy in more cases than not.
I acknowledged his comment and thanked him. He went on to let me know this was one the favorite places of his late dog Rocco. He was there one last time with Rocco before heading to the crematorium.
I put Wiggles in a ‘sit and stay’ position at the trail head as I walked back over to the man, now seated back in the rear of the SUV. There I saw his late dog Rocco peacefully, comfortably laid down beside him having taken his last breath a few hours earlier that morning.
The pain hit me, the hurt this man was feeling as real to me as it would have been to him I’m sure. Rocco was 12 years old and he got him as a puppy, an AKC staffy. I expressed my condolences. Having been in that space several times in my life, I knew all too well what he was going through. There I stood for what seemed like a long time as he shared stories about Rocco while I just listened. After a few moments of him sharing, the one-sided conversation came to an end, I shook his hand and left so that he can cry in privacy, which after all is why he took my spot this morning.
Into the woods, Wiggles and I went, thinking and praying for all involved at the start. My heart ached for a moment as I thought about what Roccos’ dad was going through. I thought about my time with Wiggles and before her my time with Victor and before him my time with Bear and before him my time with Tan. Each of my dogs have shaped me in unique ways nothing else could have.
Dogs are a man’s best friend indeed.
If you’ve made it this far, I thank you for your time and attention, the two most valuable assets we have in this life, so it means more to me than I can express in mere words. 💙🤗 may your days be filled with blessings and peace.
To my current supporters, thank you for your early encouragement. Let’s keep creating together! Cheers to many more inspiring cups of fulfilling creations.
That is all and once again thank you for reading.
Shashue Monrauch
It’s wild how each dog leaves a paw print on a different part of your heart. They carry our secrets, sit with our sadness, and love us through things we don’t even have words for.
Wiggles, Victor, Bear, Tan they weren’t just pets. They were healers.
And yes… dogs are more than a best friend. They’re a piece of home we get to walk through the world with. 🐾