busy street | My New Life @ 51

Today is Sunday, December 4th, 2016 and it has been thirteen days since our beloved Elton went to rest with our Penny.

It has been quite the year for our family, and I cannot even imagine how my kids feel suffering the loss of their two babies in such a short period of time.

Our Penny left us on March 15th, 2016 and then Elton followed her on November 22, 2016.

This year family and several of our friends are suffering the loss of their dear fur babies.

When these wonderful creatures enter our lives we do not think of when they will leave us as it is often times too painful.

They are members of our families, and their loss is felt in every aspect of our lives.

Elton joined our family in quite the most unusual way.

On July 11, 2004, on the advice of a visiting friend, Amanda and Steven went to the Humane Society to see about possibly adopting a dog.

In the parking lot of the Edmonton Human Society a young man approached them.

He asked them if they wanted a dog.

The man told them that their dog was scared of kennels and that they could not longer have him in their place.

Amanda and Steven went to his truck only to find the wife holding a dog and crying aloud.

My daughter started to cry as she took the dog from the young woman’s arms.

Both the man and the woman clearly upset about having to give up their beloved dog.

The kids ascertained quickly that this doggie required medical attention as he looked pretty rough.

He had a bad ear infection for starters.

I was living in Regina at the time when I received the phone call from them telling me all about the new addition to their family.

They were so excited.

I knew that this pup would never want for anything and that they would be great parents to him.

Right from the start Elton was pretty laid back but when he wanted something, he wanted it now.

That did not change over the next 12 years.

One year after they adopted Elton – Penny joined the family.

I clearly remember the first visit Elton had at my apartment in Regina.

The kids had come back for a friend’s wedding and left their beloved boy in Grandma’s “capable” care.

I figured no problem …. I raised my daughter so how hard could it be.

Perhaps a bit on the arrogant side.

While they were gone ….

I, me and Elton were on the patio ( I lived on the main floor), and I was having a smoke (back when I smoked).

Carelessly I just let him be on the patio with no leash as he had been so good.

I could not have for-seen what happened next.

We were chilling on the patio keeping dry as it was raining.

All of a sudden out of nowhere a rabbit dashed by the patio and Elton was gone like a flash.

For a split second I stood daft …..

Not even thinking of anything but “Oh my gosh the kids will kill me if anything happened to him as I lived close to a busy street.”

I tore off like a bullet or the next closest thing not considering that I had flip flops on, and the grass was wet.

So I pretty much slid in chase.

I could see him as he turned the corner of our apartment building and continued to run until he came across the big tree in the green space of our complex.

Thankfully he stopped to “mark his territory” and I literally fell almost on top of him.

There was no way that I was going to let go.

Breathing a sigh of relief, so happy that he was safe.

I feared having to share our story with his parents.

But I caved, as I cannot be dishonest.

I learned a valuable lesson that day.

Never again …..

Although years down the road after I moved to Edmonton when I was walking with Elton, Penny and Alvin – well I will just say that we almost had a similar experience but no rain.

Not easy holding onto three …..

Over the years Elton played a major role in our family.

He was the guy.

Big brother to Penny and later brother figure to Alvin …..

Elton had his health issues over the years.

He had many allergies and once they were determined he could no longer eat some of his favourite treats …. like bananas and peas.

Elton and Penny both accompanied the kids on pretty much every holiday they went on and the other times when they could not go – they were with Grandma.

I remember the kids relating a story from one of their summer trips.

They had gone to Waterton National Park the summer before Penny joined their family.

The kids were hiking up to a lake when they saw bear poop on the trail and instantly went on guard.

As they got to the lake they spotted the bear only a few meters from them eating berries, he did not seem to care.

Of course, Elton was his calm self.

Steve decided they should stay and fish but Amanda wanted to get the “heck” out of there.

They stayed.

The bear ended up passing a moose across the lake doing nothing.

Now this story might have had a different ending if Miss Penny had been there.

She would have spoke up.

This is Elton, our dear little guy who was a large part of our family for over 12 years.

We were blessed to have him with us.