Essa went for her first ride on the Vespa yesterday afternoon. Kim called to tell me the ashes were ready to be picked up at the vet’s office and wondered if I might be able to swing by on my way home. Before going on with this story I need to say something about Centre Animal Hospital. They have been a blessing during the past week and have provided outstanding care for Essa for as long as we have been going there. When Dr. Deb Smart performed emergency surgery at 3am on a Sunday morning about 6 years ago to deal with a gastric tortion volvolus she gave us six additional years with our dog. And she was with Essa at the end. We could not have asked for anything more from a veterinarian or a clinic.
Essa’s ashes were delivered in a small wooden box with flowers carved in the lid and a small brass plaque etched with “Essa”. The box was inside a plain brown paper bag with a heart drawn on the side along with a paw print made from one of Essa’s paws. Seeing that drew a sad smile. As I carefully place the bag in the rear bag on the Vespa I said out loud, “You’re going for a ride pretty girl.” I’ve said the same thing countless times as she climbing into a car or truck but she never had the pleasure of a ride on the scooter. As I traveled home by a loping route through the valley I imagined how excited she would have been in a sidecar, Doggles in place, taking in the air and smells from a complex world.
We stopped along Spring Creek at a place Essa liked to swim. It’s been a long time since she was in the water due to weakening legs. But I could see her leaping into the stream and paddling around forever if I didn’t make her leave.
I realized as I made my way home that the dog traveled these routes with me before. In the truck searching for rocks for the garden, in the car on an outing to make photographs. This was her world as well as mine. And now it was hers for good.
Kim and I aren’t sure what we’ll do with the ashes. We’ll probably spread them in the places she loved. For now she’ll sit alongside her departed companion Iggy Pup until they make their last walk together.
We tend to get caught up in all of the worldly pleasures in life and often forget that what makes us most happy are the small things.
My wife and I have been hugging our dog Josie more since we read of the passing of Essa. Too bad Essa’s first ride had to be the way it was. We hope you are doing well and want to say we really enjoy your lovely pictures.
That spot by the creek seemed like a nice resting place for Essa’s ashes….
Very nice lighting on the pictures by the way….
Oh my, how many tissues did it take to write that story? Thank you for sharing your journey.
Steve,
That was wonderful… Essa memories will always be part of your one wheel drive adventure.
Phil
Rob: Indeed! The noise of living masks a lot of great experience right in front of us.
Danny: You can never give too many hugs with a dog.
Things are ok and thank you for your words of support.
Charlie6: We’re still not sure about where the ashes will go. There is a creek just down the hill from our house that Essa used to swim in every time we went for a walk. Whether we wanted her to or not. Some may end up there for sure.
SheRidesABeemer: I get things out through writing or making pictures. By the time I wrote this the tissue stage was behind me. Gratefully when I think of her now it’s mostly happy memories…
Pvino: Yes she will. Memories are precious things.
In reading I assume the predecesor to Essa also waits for a final place.
And in looking at he photo realized the bag had handles manufactured from string; and that style of bag I haven’t seen in years. When my cremated cat was returned he too had been lovingly placed in a manicured wooden box with his engraved name attached.
I added his birth date and date of departure on a separate engraving, with “My orange tiger.”
He was orange and a male with a white tummy and succumbed to an altercation with a neighbour’s
pit bull. Pit bulls and their
variants have since been banned
here in Ontario. The neighbour never apologized for the incident
and to this day tell me it was the cat’s fault for being in their unfenced yard.
I haven’t replaced him, and probably won’t. There are far too many urban restrictions these days on keeping pets. The box is still on my shelf, to bury the box means goodbye and eight years later, that hasn’t happened.
Steve
Thank you for sharing this.
Ike
Wow, very moving post. I do not know you but we have both the love of our dogs and the love of Vespas in common. I have a 15 year old pound rescue that is going to get a lot of extra hugs after work today….
Thanks
Dear Steve:
I spread them in a little corner of the garden, plant wild flowers there, and let that spot grow unleashed forever.
But that’s just me.
Sincerely,
Jack “r” Toad
Twisted Roads