I lost my very best friend. Some of you knew Tally, some of you didn't. She was my "Heart Dog"; a term reserved for a very few select dogs. If you are lucky, you will have one at some point in your life. If you don't know what a Heart Dog is, you haven't had one yet. It doesn't mean you love your current dog(s) any less - I love all my dogs to pieces, and will be devastated at the loss of any of them (yes, even you, Sophie! ;-)), however, the term refers to the equivilent of a human soul mate. Tally and I had a relationship that was rare - I swear she really was a person in a fur coat. She went everywhere with me, and I know sometimes she knew what I was thinking before I did.
I clearly remember the day (the minute, actually) that this extraordinary bond began. I'd been told about the death of a friend (not unexpected) earlier that day. I was perplexed by the fact that I didn't cry when I heard the news; not like me at all. Tally and I left for obedience class that night, and when I pulled into the parking lot of the training center, I turned off the car, sat there for a minute, and it finally hit me. Tally looked at me very worriedly, and came over and climbed in my lap. She was squinting at me the way ECs do sometimes, and she started to lap my tears. I started to really sob, and held onto her tightly, the whole time with her kissing my face. From then on, it was over. I don't know why, but we were only each other's "people" after that.
I've always been torn between worrying that I'd never feel that way about another dog again, and worrying that I would.
Till I see you at the Bridge, Tally...
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