Tag: Dogs

The Still Within

The Still Within
I am the good shepherd. . . . My sheep know my voice, and I know them. —John 10: 14, 27

In my mind today, I’m thinking of the hectic past month. I’m missing my silent morning moments. It makes me think of one of my favorite English teachers Ms. Marjorie Neal. Her motto was, “Go, Go, Go!” Her bubbly personality, short red, curly hair, and petite stature are still with me. After long bursts of activity when I feel like becoming a hermit, I hear her mantra, “Go, Go, Go!” I see her occasionally at restaurants in our little burg. I always speak, but I know she doesn’t recognize the present Sal. Then I was six feet tall, skinny as a rail, and a goofy gal. Now I’m in a scoot, growing a voluptuous buddha belly, and hidden by my disease. All that is trivial though because Mrs. Neal gave me something to use on my journey and God knows how to do this unbeknownst. So we roll with it.

Lately my mind has been screaming “No, No, No!” I’ve gotten use to my silent times with my maker and as of late my phone is constantly ringing or dinging. My calendar has been chocked full. The to do list has lengthened. As soon as I check off a task another two are added. I just pull up my dipe and put my scoot in rabbit mode and “Go, Go, Go!” Whew!

Every night my sweet “Chuck” aka Abbey jumps into my bed and we have our “Snuggle-time.” Last night I listened to her hectic life of Calculus, honors English, and standardized test oh my! She was trying to be positive and look passed her to do list. She’s summing up her high school chapter and it’s a whirlwind of college applications, ACT/SAT’s, and homework. As I listened, I realized she was exhausted and frustrated like me. She’s missing her times of solitude and silence. We discussed ways to order her day so all items would be neatly checked off. We talked about the busyness of this season and how to survive. What did we do? We added to our list! 😮 Our plan was to rise at 5:30 AM and walk through our neighborhood together then we would jump start our day. The coffee would call us home, and we would have an extra hour to begin our beginning.

It worked! The stars and moon greeted us as our coonhound bayed on our stroll. We shook the cobwebs and solved a few Alley “porbrums.” (Alley speak for problems) It was beautiful. It was a bit of solitude and communion with the Maker as we watched as the sun began to illum the day. We felt more prepared to face our calendars, homework, tests, and tasks. My “Chuck” and I are learning to carry our silence within us because there are plans and places God needs us go and to accomplish. All of this is part of it. The Still Within is bigger than any standardized test or bursting calendar. It sustains us. It keeps us rolling on and checking off our lists. All we need to do is take a brief pause, breathe, and let it fill our lives. Amazingly our “No, No, No’s” become “Go, Go, Go’s!”

Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Go, Go, Go Gal

Quotes of the day from a dear friend fighting breast cancer and leukemia while being a caregiver of her husband who has championed a massive stroke AND is the best event planner and MUMA this side of heaven, Tracy Cupples. She sent me these encouraging words after me sending my “pity pot” to do list this morning.

“You know that’s how you roll. I have come to realize…….. that’s a big part of what’s keeping you alive. You don’t slow down long enough to realize what is going on with your body………AND …….the biggest reason…….God is keeping you rolling for HIM because no one is a brighter light.”

“Sarah, one day we’ll all stop rolling. So roll on and spread love and light. That’s who you are…..that’s who you’ve always been…… before ALS. Here’s the thing…… people listen with intent now. God knows who will roll on for HIM. Your house is waiting on you and that crown too………. We win either way, Sarah!!!!”
Ms. Tracy “Muma” Cupples

Just a Dog

 

 


In my mind I’m thinking about beloved pets specifically dogs. Remember your childhood days? Were you lucky enough to have a family pet? If you didn’t, I can honestly say you missed a lot of love. I have always loved animals and much to my mother’s dismay brought several home as a child. I got it honest. My father was worse than me for having a soft spot for animals. It makes complete sense that I follow in his footsteps. Pets are just extended family according to Sal the Animal Loving Gal.

I remember each and every pet I’ve ever had. I remember the antics of begging my mom to let them stay. Of course, she always did. She always made sure each animal was cared for when I was too busy being a kid. Thank God for mothers.

Do I have favorites? Well, each pet has its own special personality and trait. I can’t say that some were better. They all have a special place in my heart. Each one gave me companionship and joy. There were different pets in different seasons and each shared my life as a outside-loving, adventuresome girl. Oh, the places we did go! I know I always had a best friend by my side.

This year I’ve had to say goodbye to two of my beloved dogs. It’s taken me almost six months to pen the words. To give a proper tribute to these two special girls Lily and Lucy has been so hard. My mop-topped Lucy came to me one Valentine’s Day as a gift to keep me moving. My body was weakening from atrophy and I had no clue how devastating this disease would be. Instead of running, she and I walked. I know we walked many miles over her 13 too short years. My big, beloved, stinky sheepdog never wavered. She watched me go from running, walking, hobbling with a cane, and finally to a wheelchair. When my walking days were over, I rolled in my scoot with her faithfully on my left side. Some days we just sat looking into the sky. We were both too tired and our bodies slowing down. She started struggling to walk as I rolled only one mile. I would say, “Good girl Lucy Seuss. Let’s just head home.” Then came the struggling to get up. Her hips were worn out. I would pet her and say, “I feel your pain sweet girl.” Then the day came when she was to cross over rainbow bridge. I couldn’t beg her to stay in such a worn-out body. There is not hospice care or motorized wheelchairs for our fur babies. We had lived a beautiful season together so I told her, “I’ll meet you on the other side. We will have a good long walk. You are my Lucy in the Sky now.”

My hard headed cross between Willie Nelson and a basset hound Lily left me in January. She had more issues than Reader’s Digest and more road miles touring than Waylon, Wille, and the Boys. She was literally know in our Tri-County Area. Everyone knew and loved our Lily. She frequented the pound. They would just call and say, “Sarah, Lily is here.” We would bust her out. Remember those long wooded paths we walked? Well, one led to a little country store called “Countryside Grocery.” As the crow flies, it was less than 1,000 feet from my house. What do hounds do? Follow their noses of course! She became pals with the local farmers. When I left for work at 7 AM, she did, too. She ate breakfast with the farmers for a decade. Farmers brought her home after her day at the store. The owners let her stay till closing and then brought her home. We tried everything to keep her here, but she was everyone’s dog. Then like all good things, they end. The store was bought by a Dollar General chain. Talk about convenience. There was a lot more convenience for Our Lily. There were automated doors and pig ears on the bottom shelves. Doggy heaven, right? She had a running tab at the “Gentral.” She was one of the best actors. She could rival Morgan Freeman. She could have won an Oscar. She was given treats galore. I just chuckle. She was Facebook famous. People would post look at this poor basset at the Dollar General. People would tag me and reply, “That’s Sarah’s dog.” What a life this girl of ours lived. It was a dream life for a basset. Such personality this girl had. There will never be another Lily. My daughter is still grieving but she’s college bound and Lily was to be our last basset. Maybe one day she’ll have her own “Lily.” I could fill volumes with “Lily Tales.” She loved me ferociously. She would always nudge and lick my immobile feet because I couldn’t bear hug her anymore. When we met the neighborhood bully Pit bull, Pokey, she would race to my rescue putting herself between Pokey and my wheelchair. Once Pokey got my foot, but Lily backed her off and we escaped. I’m crying again as I type. We shared such beautiful times. When I took her for her first vet visit with Lucy, my vet said don’t be surprised if Lily is your alpha. She was and I love and miss her so much. She died a rainy Wednesday night in my friend’s yard. She was traveling with the latest stray that was dropped at the Dollar General. I came home from youth group and my boys were muddy and sad. They had put her to rest by my pink rose bush. They knew I would be inconsolable to see her lifeless.

Lily and Lucy are at rest side by side in my flower garden. I will be scattered there with them one day. My kids know I want to be free to romp in my garden with them and feed my flowers. Now our herd consists of Daisy May the Stray and Dolly. Both of these girls were dumped out. Dolly came from the Dollar General about a month before Lily left us. Hence her name Dolly General. Daisy was dropped at a relative’s house and Lily talked her into jumping in my SUV 8 years ago. The rest is history,

Are they just dogs? I don’t think so. They are part of our singing, dancing, mourning, and living. Both of my sons assured me I had given them a great life as I wept for days. I think so, too. I know because my heart wouldn’t hurt so.
RIP to my girls.

Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Dog Loving Gal

Quote of the Day:
“When we adopt a dog or any pet, we know it is going to end with us having to say goodbye, but we still do it. And we do it for a very good reason: They bring so much joy and optimism and happiness. They attack every moment of every day with that attitude.”
Bruce Cameron