Say Hello to My Furry Friend
This is the dog who turned me into a crazy dog lady. And it snowed!
In December 2007, my infant nephew was murdered by a family acquaintance. I am a pacifist at heart and could not comprehend the idea that anyone could hurt a helpless baby, especially during a holiday season that celebrates the life-changing arrival of a holy infant here on earth.
Depression settled in, and what followed was the most miserable Christmas season that our family has ever known. Over the next few months, due to a series of unrelated coincidences, we attended nearly a dozen more funerals for family, friends, and co-workers. Each memorial service added a layer of grief that wrapped tighter than the one before.
By the time my birthday rolled around in March, the spring weather raised the temperatures outside, but winter’s bitter chill lingered inside me. I was the human version of Pooh’s pal Eeyore, going through life with a raincloud of sadness over my head at all times.
Friends and family members’ attempts to cheer me up had failed. Drawing provided a temporary escape, but all of the charcoal and sketch paper in the world couldn’t change the events of the past. I was too busy looking back to see anything positive about the future.
Then a childhood friend called with an invitation to lunch to celebrate my birthday. We had existing plans to meet up “at some point” so I could photograph her golden retriever’s new litter of puppies in anticipation of sketching them. I couldn’t draw the puppies on location because, as luck would have it, I had developed a pet allergy some years before.
Although I hesitated, my husband encouraged me to go. Our sons would be in school and the invitation was to a restaurant that I loved. With the weight of the world on my shoulders, I reluctantly accepted the invite.
Once at the restaurant, we settled into our booth and gave our drink orders to the hostess. The moment that it was just us, my friend turned her attention on me and asked, “Remember how when we were kids, your family always had those pets that were special?”
How could I forget? During my youth, our family had a 3-legged cat named Tripod, an old bluetick beagle named Blue who had a grass allergy, and an unsteady-legged kitten with spinal issues named Wobbles, to name just a few.
My friend went on to describe the birth of the youngest puppy, who would have been stillborn if not for some quick mouth-to-snout resuscitation. Then it was discovered that the puppy had a fifth paw growing out of its back right leg.
Now six weeks old, the puppy seemed completely normal in every other way. Did I want to meet her? And maybe I could give her a home?
Itchy, watery eyes and fits of sneezing were a small price to pay for cuddling a litter of golden retriever puppies. I was already out of the house on this gorgeous spring day and had my camera with me. I couldn’t promise to give the dog a home, but I was open to meeting the fuzzy ball of golden fluff.
After we finished lunch, I followed my friend to her house where I met the golden retriever puppies. It was only after I had met the others when she handed me the special puppy who promptly laid its head on my shoulder and sighed. Our fate was sealed and, for the first time in months, the dark clouds that hung over me dispersed as sunny rays of joy took their place. The golden warmth cracked through the ice that encased my heart.
Several hours past after which I reluctantly returned home to discuss the idea of having a puppy join the family with my husband and our two sons. The conclusion was that if the puppy’s vet and my doctor both gave their stamp of approval, then the puppy would be ours. My sons asked if we could call her Ginger.
Gingerbelle (Ginger + Belle, which was her mother’s middle name) was my constant companion for the next several years thanks to medication that controlled my allergy symptoms. The vet said that anything after Gingerbelle’s first birthday would be a gift.
She defied the odds, and we enjoyed five wonderful years together until kidney disease took her in June 2013. As difficult as it was to say goodbye, I wouldn’t have traded my time with Gingerbelle for anything. She is the puppy who turned me into a crazy dog lady.
Do you have a pet who changed your life? I’d love to hear all about them.
Snow at the beach? Yes, it happened!
Our sleepy little town in South Carolina got a reported 5” of snow this week. This pic was taken from our bird feeder camera yesterday morning. The white stuff should melt away by the weekend. By next Wednesday, the temps should rise to a balmy 60°F. There’s never a dull moment on the South Carolina coast.
Add this furry fictional friend to your 2025 reading list!
Meet Daisy, the magical German shepherd with a nose for nonsense and a tongue sharper than her canines. This fur-midable police dog patrols the enchanted isle of Bijou Mer with unwavering loyalty and a dash of sass.
Disciplined yet sneakily affectionate, Daisy's got a soft spot for her partner, Officer Flint, but don't expect tail wags for criminals – this pup can sniff out lies faster than you can say "who's a good girl?"
This full series is available in one boxed set and for Kindle Unlimited readers, which means you can get 8 books and only use one KU spot!
That's all for now. I hope your day is filled with books and coffee (or whatever you’ve got in your favorite mug). Happy reading!
Until next time,
Becky
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Hello gorgeous pup 🤗🤗🤗
Oh my goodness, what a cute puppy photo!