Since July 2021, I have been grieving the death of my beloved dog, Beau. Due to a series of unfortunate situations, I have not been able to adopt another dog. As it turns out, my dogs have given me a sense of joy, as well as companionship, and have offered me tremendous stress relief. When I would pet one of my dogs, I could literally feel the stress leaving my body. And, they kept me active, taking them for several walks each day. Recently, I experienced a frightening and dangerous situation while driving. I could have been killed… and/or injured or killed others. After getting a clean bill of health, it has been suggested that my attack was likely stress-induced… coupled with the on-going grief I have been experiencing over the loss of my dog, and being unable to adopt another one. When you live alone, having a pet can be a lifesaver. Since that scary driving incident, I quit my job (which I loved, by the way) and am staying with my son’s family for a while. I want to go back to work, but it has become clear that I need to work through my grief… and adopt another dog… in order to regain my health and strength. One of the things suggested to help people cope with grief is to journal. So, I’m going to blog with the hopes that it will not only help me, but may also help others. People who have beloved pets will understand my feelings. Those of you who don’t, it is my hope that, while reading this blog, you will gain some understanding and compassion for those of us who do. But before I can talk about Beau, I will start my story when my journey with dogs began. I hope you will come along for the adventure.
Grace Notes 