Tucked Within Our Hearts

Tucked within our hearts

There is an image of

a dog running free,

a loving companion

sharing long hikes

in the forest, hunting

for frogs in the bogs,

and teaching two

little girls about

joie de vivre.

Tucker (June, 2005 - February 27, 2009)

Over the last twenty-four hours, I have spent much of my time grieving for our dog Tucker.  Last night he was killed on the road near our house.  Today Lena and Paul came over and Paul dug a big hole in my gardens near the walkway.  Inside the house, I sat with the girls explaining death.  Although Sage was well aware of the words spoken, the concept did not sink in.  "Will Tuck come back tomorrow", she queried.  Julia, on the other hand, at 6,  knew that when something dies, they don't come back.  Julia spent her time drawing a picture for Tuck to take with him on his passage.

Papa and Paul came into the house to tell us it was time ...the girls brought their offerings and Lena placed some flowers on the grave.  Julia broke down and went to sit with her Mom on the porch.  We talked about all the good times we had with Tuck and how we would miss him.  We talked about why we need to be careful when we are near roads.  "Tuck wasn't careful near the road, was he Nana?"

"No, Tuck was not careful, Sage.  The road is dangerous and that's why we ask that you don't go near it without an adult."

"I'm going to miss Tuck" sobbed Julia as she nestled within her Mother's arms.

Going over all these conversations in my head after the girls left, I couldn't help but think about an email I had read recently about the different people that come into your life.  Does it not also apply to animals?

Sometimes people come into your life and you know
right away that they were meant to be there, to serve
some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help
you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be - a roommate, a
neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a
complete stranger - but when you lock eyes with them,
you know at that very moment they will affect your
life in some profound way.

Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible,
painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you
find that without overcoming those obstacles you would
have never realized your potential, strength,
willpower, or heart.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness,
and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of
your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they
may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight
flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and
comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the
success and downfalls you experience, help to create
who you are and who you become. Even the bad
experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are
sometimes the most important ones.

If someone loves you, give love back to them in
whatever way you can, not only because they love you,
but because in a way, they are teaching you to love
and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your
heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn
about trust and the importance of being cautious to
whom you open your heart.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take
from those moments everything that you possibly can
for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk
to people that you have never talked to before, and
listen to what they have to say.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your
sights high. Hold your head up because you have every
right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and
believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in
yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in
you.

You can make anything you wish of your life. Create
your own life and then go out and live it with
absolutely no regrets.

And if you love someone tell them, for you never know
what tomorrow may have in store.

Learn a lesson in life each day that you live! Today
is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday. Was
it worth it?

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