Goddess spent the night away from home last night so there wasn’t the normal homecoming of licking me, running around in circles wanting me to rub her butt and generally acting like a monkey humper! She was at my Mom’s house and as far as I know that’s the only other house that she has stayed at without me.
I missed her as she always greets me with sheer delight.
And the longer the nigh went, the more I missed her.
Leaving St. Martin makes for a long. It starts off fine enough as the entire morning is staring at the aqua blue of Orient Bay. I stayed through lunch and went back to Orange where Oliver (pronounced Uh-lav-ahh) shook my hand, embraced me then took me to meeting his wife Ana and baby boy.
While she and I talked Oliver was holding his baby making faces cooing with the boy. I was struck that it may be true that the French make sillier faces than Americans do, when comes to playing with babies.
Then he opened the sand floor restaurant just for me (an hour early) so that I could have lunch. We chatted and he reminded me again of how good I look.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I answered, “Amore and all of that that!”
“But of course,” he shot back.
Afterwards Conner and I said goodbye and promised to do it all again after successfully reconstructing about fifty-two percent of what we did. We congratulated each other how much we’ve matured as this was the first time that we could remember over half of whatever it is we do.
The Princess Juliana International Airport was a cluster of lines and the hurry-up-and-wait flying that is thanks to terrorists. The crowded plane took off for the four hours flight and I was in Atlanta … waiting in line … after hurrying up. Then I waited for the plane to Savannah but was ecstatic that a friend had shown up to drive me back to Tybee Island.
I fell into the loving arms of my own bed and was asleep in no time.
Then … my eyes popped open in the dark. The moon cast light on the Palm Trees outside of my windows. All seemed peaceful but … something was wrong.
Then I knew.
Goddess was not snoring lying in the floor beside the bed. Not once did I hear the familiar sound of the doggie door opening and closing while she made her rounds. There was no lapping water from her bowl. Not once did she nudge her butt next to the bed so that I could rub it with one hand while remaining under the covers; nor did lick my face if I happened to be sleeping too close to the side.
For the past sixteen months it has just been Goddess and me living in this house. We start and end every day together. She makes me laugh and is forever amazing me with the things that she’ll do. She creates joy out of thin air like only the best of friends can do.
Once flying to St. Martin I made the mistake of watching the movie “Marley and me.” I cried like a baby and promised Goddess that she can have whatever she wants the rest of her life. I have the hardest time imaging my life without her.
When I was in college I worked the Bulloch Veterinary Clinic. Once this old man had his very old dog who was obviously nearing the end. Dr. Dugan told the old man it would be better if the dog was put to sleep. Tears filled the old man’s eyes and he placed his hand over his mouth … and sobbed. I can still the sound of that sob all of these years later.
The old man stumbled into a chair and hung his head. Dr. Dugan waited patiently. I held the dog.
Finally the old man stood, staring at the dog, still with his hand over his mouth and tears in his eyes. He went to leave and Dr. Dugan started preparing the syringe.
Suddenly the old man turned and held up his hand. “I think I’ll just take him home. Thank you Doctor.”
And he did … driving away in an old blue pickup truck with arm around his dog.
I understand.
I’m ready for you to come home Goddess.
