An unexpected teacher

I wanted a puppy. Badly. Not everyone was on board, but I knew it was time. I decided on a Golden Retriever, the embodiment of love, selflessness, and pure happiness. And, have you ever seen a Golden Retriever puppy? I mean seriously. There is not a word in the English language that comes close to accurately describing their cuteness.

So, on my birthday weekend in May 2003, my friend and I went to check out some puppies at a breeder just outside of Columbus, OH. When we arrived, we were greeted by Marci, the breeder, who lived at the home with her husband, two kids, and a female Golden named Bailey. She quickly led us to the backyard to meet the puppies.

As we rounded the corner near the garage, we saw a large enclosure. Inside were 12 baby Golden Retrievers with huge tongue-filled smiles on their faces climbing all over each other trying to get to us.

It was amazing! Hands down one of the best days of my life. Our host ushered us into the enclosure to meet the puppies, and we were immediately engulfed by these fuzz balls. As we played, one puppy kept sitting on my feet. He was happy, sweet, and loving. He picked me. I fell in love.I named him Dexter.

Dexter will be 13 in April. He has been my constant companion for more than a decade. We’ve changed houses and jobs, experienced loss and happiness, changed our last name and expanded our family.

When I got him, I didn’t realize how much he would enrich my life. This sweet soul that doesn’t speak a word of English has taught me unconditional love, patience, compassion, work/life balance, and how to mother.

Dexter is slowing down now and I’m not sure how much more his body is willing to tolerate (of course, being a Golden you’d never know he was sick). But he is still teaching me, even at the end. This time it’s about caring for a sick, aging being, and making choices that will honor and respect him. He trusts me to take care of him and make decisions that are in his best interest. This is a heavy weight that, at this point, feels painful and tragic.

As we go through this together, I hope he knows how much I love him. I hope he feels like I’ve given him a great life. Mostly, I hope he has felt as much love from me as I have from him.