gardening a life: Feb 2, 2010

Dogs, dogs, dogs, dogs, dogs. We love them, and they love us. Gods and Goddesses some say, these animals.

Years ago, I found a dog, she found me, and eventually this dog found her way to my Mother who named her Hera. For almost thirteen years, Hera and my Mother have been inseparable. Their independent spirits, their love of life, their generosity and willingness to love has inspired many friends and all our family. Hera's eyes sparkle with life. Her coat of black and white, her neck often tied with a red bandana illuminated a zest for living, eating, sleeping, napping, scratching at the door, running the land at 500 West Beach, chasing vapor trails, barking at thunder, howling with fire engines. . Hera, solid body of a female dog, kept us at her beckoning; we found, and my Mother especially found, there was nothing you wouldn't do for Hera. So we did.

I remember Mom scrambling Hera eggs; fixing hot dogs; bringing home delectable doggy bags for her. Hera stayed with Martha when Mom went out of town. Martha's kennel was several acres for dogs to sniff and dig and play in packs as they do. Martha loved her as well as we did; she often kept Opera playing in the kennel for the dogs.

Hera nursed me back to the living when I was going through tough times years ago. We walked the beach in rhythm, Hera often way in front of me and then turning her head with patience, slowing down for me to catch up. My sister Tina got down on the floor more than anyone else to be near and as close as possible to Hera. Living out of town, the hardest part of going back home for Tina was leaving Hera. Tina on all fours with Hera is a familiar site in my mind's eye. That Tina J loves Hera. She would flirt with and coax Hera to have our pup at the end of her bed.

If you know my Mother, you know Hera, and so many of my Mother's friends, my Grandmother and others have loved and lived through the beauty of Hera.

But today my Mom and Martyn brought Hera to the beach in Pass Christian for her final farewell. The trio walked the beach, touched the waves, felt the horizon, sought the smells of the Gulf, the intricate niches of other beings ever present. This Hera's favorite adventure, the beach, the freedom, all out running and play. This the life she loved. For about a year, despite excellent internal health, great heart and kidney functioning, Hera's physical health deteriorated such that my Mother reached the point of no return, deciding with great Respect for this proud and stoic dog, to release her back into the source from which she came.

Hera, my Mother's heart and body and mind and by way of their relating and love Our family's sweet Hera dog is now laid to rest.

So this writing is for Hera and as Isak Dinesen said of Denys Finchhatten, "We loved her well. She was not ours; she was not mine." Fare thee well, Hoopie.

I share some stories we have shared with each other today.

Mom writes: "My Miss Hera is asleep after yet another romp on the beach at 500 West beach! She is chasing vapor trails and the birds in her own pain-free Paradise. She will be missed by her many friends of many flocks and tribes. Hera was trusting of my judgement until the End and I will so miss her constancy, loyalty and unflagging love. I already miss the love in her eyes that said so much in dog-speak. I know that she loved each of you for your warm affection and understanding and your pats and sweet words of affection. Thank you each one for being a part of Hera's life and specially for sharing Pass Christian with her and us all. Love, Chris

And Mom's sister Cynthia wrote this "Ode to Hera"

The world has been a better place because Hera is in it. Animals have an innate ability to love because they don't have obstacles that block their love like fear or worry as we humans do. They can and do love us unconditionally. They bring us such joy and wonder. They know when we are sick and sit next to us and wait. They are there when we come home from work or play and it's like the first time they ever saw us all over again. They run to us with joy and love in their eyes, and lick us and jump on us. They love us that much even when we think we don't deserve such love they love us anyway and always.

Hera, to me, is the metaphor for paradise because that is where I met her. In Pass Christian, Mississippi I met Hera. She is so beautiful and wise, fun and so loving all at the same time. She barked at the sky and the sea and she swam in the water with me. I got to take her for walks on the lovely gulf coast which was her home. She was born there and she oozed with the spirit of that place, that magical, warm, sunny, home. Christine's home in Pass Christian was my paradise that I came to when my world got too much and I swam, and ate fish and shrimp and floated in the pool in the sun. And, there was Hera with me: a part of my magical experience where the outside world stopped and paradise began. I can see her there by the pool running for the ball that Christine threw and drinking from the water hose. I remember she loved that water and needed it too. She is a part of that gulf coast earth.

Hera made me feel safe there too. She barked at noises and was a great protector. Throughout the years I have loved Hera as she has loved me. She is a guardian angel of mine and many many others. And we all need guardian angels like Hera in our lives to lift us up and comfort us. I know that she will always be with me and love and protect me for that is what guardian angels do.

Thank your God for Hera. She has loved so many. And from her love we will carry on.

With love from your sister,
Cynthia

Here's a favorite image, Tina with Hera