As awful as this week has been, I have found so much comfort in finding that others have been touched by my little dude as well. I know my sadness is no different than each of you who has also lost a dear friend. How sad for those who haven’t felt this kind of loss, because that means they never got to experience this kind of love.
When Emmett and I were at Dog Beach this Sunday, I was following along as Emmett nuzzled a woman for pets as he always does. After receiving his due, we continued to walk along the waterline. Her husband approached, a man with a big-guns type of camera around his neck, just like my husband. “Can I take a picture of your dog?” he asked.
I said sure. Emmett is nothing if not photogenic.
He snapped a couple of shots. “Get down by him,” he suggested, so I kneeled down and submitted to the kisses.
The man told me his e-mail address, a couple of times to make sure I had it committed to memory.
On Wednesday, I sent him an e-mail to see the pictures. I didn’t say anything about the circumstances, because if he was anything like my husband he would have a turnaround of a few weeks and I didn’t want to rush him. But he sent them along that night, and there I saw the two of us. I have a lot of pictures of Emmett, but I believe this was the only one of both of us together since the ill-fated Christmas 2003 picture where I made him wear a turtleneck sweater.
Pictures securely in hand, I sent this man a quick note to say thank you, and explain specifically why those shots meant even more than he could know.
And he responded with this:
“I am so very sorry for your loss. I truly enjoyed the way Emmett looked at you at the beach. I’ve never offered to take someone elses photo before, but for some reason I was moved. Now I am even happier that I did. I just looked at the your photos again and can seel how much Emmett adores you. I hope the many many fond memories you have of him offer you peace in your loss.”
Opening that e-mail in a public place was a poor decision on my part.
What a curious thing, that of the hordes of pets there that day, this person was moved by my dog. What little unseen soft noses pressed at the back of his knees, telling him that this was something he should do?
The pictures themselves I chose not to share. They are a moment I need to hold close. But the moment and the gesture is one that has left me a little breathless.
Thank you, Jeff.
Hi. I’ve been reading your blog since CuteOverload, and actually went back and read your archives as well. I just wanted to express my sympathy at your loss. How great that you got a good picture, though. I have one of my childhood dog, right before we took her to the vet’s for the final time. It’s not that great, but I still treasure it. Its strange how some people can be more touched by their pets than they are by people (I hope this changes for me when I have kids!) I don’t even know you, but your story has me all emotional. I keep thinking how much more of a wreck I’ll be when it comes time for my cats (who are barely a year old, so it’ll be a while.)
Anyways, I babble.
Hugs to you and your family!!
I’m so glad that Jeff was there to capture images of the two of you, what a wonderful and unexpected gift.
What a wonderful gift. I am so happy to hear that you will now have these great pictures to cherish forever.
Wow – what an unexpected and wonderful gift for you. Jeff definitely sounds like Kevin’s right hand man.
“I truly enjoyed the way Emmett looked at you at the beach.”
this is what i hope you hold on to, not the sadness of the death, but the love and admiration he had for a job well done by his mom. so sorry for you loss, so happy for what you had.
Oh, see now I’m crying.
Hey Dr. V… I don’t know if you have heard of 2dogs2000miles? This is a man and his 2 Great Pyrenees who are walking from Austin, TX to Boston, MA to raise awareness of Canine Cancer. He is currently in PA and has been on the road for a year and a half. I don’t know why I haven’t mentioned him before. His name is Luke. My husband and I have become decent friends with him, as I found him on the internet right after Chase was diagnosed, and then right after Chase passed, Luke come through our city and we met him in person. He is just wonderful. He has a website – http://www.2dogs2000miles.org and a twitter @2dogs2000miles, if you want to check him out. I let him know about Emmett, as he posted on twitter that 4 dogs he has met over the last 2-3 months have been lost to cancer over the last two weeks, two of them being under 4 years old. He wanted me to let you know that they have a 2010 “Cancer can’t get a good dog down” calendar coming up. They are taking submissions of stories/pictures of dogs who had/have cancer if you would like to submit a story and picture of Emmett. (people vote on the submissions and the top votes get in to the calendar.) Speaking of, I need to get on that about Chase myself.
Thanks for sharing this. I’m going to check him out (I lost my beloved Rottie to cancer at age 5). It sounds like Chase was a wonderful dog too. *hugs*
Even a stranger on the beach could tell how amazing Emmett was and the bond the two of you had. I’m so happy that he was able to capture a moment at Emmett’s most favorite place and that you have photos to cherish. Although I have thousands of photos of Blade, I love the simple ones that just have me and him in them.