To my dear Pharaoh.
I was sorting through some papers over the weekend and I came across something that I wrote on the 14th September, 2007.
Let me explain.
2007 was a very important year for me. I had barely got over the fact that my ex-wife had walked out on me the previous December 20th but had been given the revelation that my fear of rejection had been brought into my conscious state after having been unconscious for 50 years. This was a fantastic outcome from just one visit to a local psychotherapist.
I had been out to California in the summer to see Dan. His sister, Suzanne, had called by and invited me to come to Mexico for Christmas. I was unaware that this trip to Mexico was to change my life for the better in every imaginable way!
Anyway, back to my writings.
ooOOoo
I am your dog and have something I would love to whisper in your ear. I know that you humans lead very busy lives. Some have to work, some have children to raise, some have to do this alone. It always seems like you are running here and there, often too fast, never noticing the truly grand things in life.
Look down at me now. While you sit at your computer. See the way my dark, brown eyes look at yours.
You smile at me. I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit? A soul inside who loves you as no other could in the world? A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a single moment of moment of your time. That is al I ask. To slow down, if even for a few minutes, to be with me.
So many times you are saddened by others of my kind passing on.
Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, so suddenly that it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes, we age slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract-clouded eyes. Still the love is always there even we must take that last, long sleep dreaming of running free in a distant, open land.
I may not be here tomorrow. I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when the grief fills their souls, and you will mourn the loss of just ‘one more day’ with me. Because I love you so, this future sorrow even now touches my spirit and grieves me. I read you in so many ways that you cannot even start to contemplate.
We have now together. So come and sit next to me here on the floor and look deep into my eyes. What do you see? Do you see how if you look deeply at me we can talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come not to me as my owner but as a fellow living soul. Stroke my fur and let us look deep into the other’s eyes and talk with our hearts.
I may tell you something about the fun of working the scents in the woods where you and I go. Or I may tell you something profound about myself or how we dogs see life in general. I know you decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share things with. I know how much you have cared for me and always stood up for me even when others have been against me. That gift from you has been very precious to me. I know too that you have been through troubled times and I have been there to guard you, to protect you and to be there always for you. I am very different to you but here I am. I am your dog but just as alive as you.
I feel emotion. I feel physical senses. I can revel in the differences of our spirits and our souls. I do not think of you as a dog on two feet; I know what you are. You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still.
So, come and sit with me. Enter my world and let time slow down if only for a few minutes. Look deep into my eyes and whisper in my ears. Speak with your heart and I will know your true self. We may not have tomorrow but we do have now.
ooOOoo
The anniversary of Pharaoh’s death in 2017 in this Friday, June 19th. He is still missed badly.
What a beautiful essay, Paul. So much truth. I spend as much time with Mags as I can. She is 13 & every day is precious. Pharoah will always be with you, in your heart & your mind.
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To be honest, Susan, I had forgotten that about this writing but upon finding it the memories of that strange year came flooding back to me. As you say, Pharaoh will always be remembered, my personal icon is Pharaoh, but I adore the dogs we have here as well. Especially Oliver, Brandy and Cleo.
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Sweet Pharaoh…
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Thank you, Marina.
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🐾❤🐾
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Well done, Paul.
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Thanks Tony, the writing was some years ago now but as I recently said to Susan the memories came flooding back.
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This is a lovely and beautiful tribute.
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LaDonna, thank you very much. (And I must ask where does that name come from? It is a most unusual name but also very attractive.)
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Such a beautiful written tribute. Sending gentle thoughts of comfort as you celebrate your ‘fur-iend’s’ life.
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Thank you, Monika. I was very surprised at the writing. Yes, I was alone and had Pharaoh as my source of comfort and love. But I still didn’t think I could write like that! It just goes to show what we can do when our lives are turned upside down.
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Lovely. And true.
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Thank you, John, thank you very much?
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I’ll be thinking of you on Friday, Paul. I (think I) know how much Pharaoh meant to you… I’m glad that you have other furry friends to help fill the void.
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Yes, you got that right, in terms of the other dogs, Colin. But nevertheless Friday will be a sad day. For all dog lovers across the world dogs just don’t live long enough. Thank you for your thoughts.
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These spirits never leave us. We finally put two of our dogs’ remains to rest on this land. We have carried their ashes with us now for … years. Gone, but never, ever forgotten. Lovely tribute to Pharaoh. ❤
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Yes Bela, today is the day that five years ago Pharaoh was laid to rest and, as you say, the spirit never leave us. Wonderful reply from you!
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Love to you both, Paul.
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Thank you!
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