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January 20, 2010

On one of many nights I attempted to sleep somewhere other than where Tom was, I had the luxury of Lilly joining me. When either of us is sick, we use various bedrooms to avoid as much as possible passing the germs along. I had a doozy of a cold last week (clearly the stress wore me down), so I coughed, sneezed, and snorted my way through several nights. So, we let our poor neglected pups sleep loose (rather than in their crates), and Lilly picked me as her cuddling companion.

At first, I thought it was because Tom put up the baby gate we use to keep the pups on the main level, but I learned in the morning she had started the night with him, but she picked me on her own.

I guess she knew I needed a little caretaking that night.

I wish I could say I slept, but I did enjoy hours and hours of just hanging out with my girl as she snoozed. I tried matching my breathing to hers, but even when asleep Lilly takes two breaths for each of mine … at least when I purposefully slow my pace to force my body to relax.

I composed something pretty neat in my head that night, but alas whatever prose I managed didn’t stick in my memory.

I wanted to tell you what I thought about, how we melded our hearts, what my sweet black-and-white girl meant to me in those dark moments, but I lost that narrative to fatigue and stress. Maybe some day it’ll come back to me.

Until then, just know that my sweet girl likely knows more than I do in these times of strife. She somehow knew her “place” was as close to me as PJs, covers and fur allow.

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. I’m so glad you had some canine companionship that night. I like to cuddle with our dogs if I take a nap when I’m sick or exhausted and I find their warm bodies to be a great comfort.

  2. Isn’t it nice to sleep next a pup? Marge and I don’t get to snuggle often, but when we do, it’s a real treat.

    I hope everything is going OK by you. As OK as it can be.

  3. Your lost narrative may remain a secret between you and Lilly, but the words you chose to share with us are just as beautiful. Having buried my tears in my sweet black and tan girl’s fur more times than I can even remember, I know the great comfort your sweet black and white girl is bringing you.

  4. KB, I’ve seen that kind of uncharacteristic quietness or gentleness in normally hyper animals, including my horses, that makes it seem like they just “know”.

  5. Roxanne, I feel so bad for you. It’s just too much. I’m glad you have your snuggle pup. I’m going to admit to something weird (imagine that). I find sniffing dog feet comforting – they kind of smell like fritos. It might clear your sinuses. Just make sure no one is looking…

  6. Thanks so much. Today, more than most days recently, I’m feeling completely overwhelmed. I fear that I’ve reached my coping capacity.

    BUT, I’m going to scrape myself together and see what I can get accomplished today.

    I’m so happy to hear that R shows restraint and maturity during your recovery. What a good boy!

  7. A cold on top of everything else? Thank goodness for your sweet Lilly. It’s really hard to put into words how the touch and smell of our loving dogs’ fur can help us in tough times. I’m glad that you have Lilly.

    I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much R, the wild and crazy youngster, has been reaching out to me. He gently climbs onto the bed next to me and puts his chin on my tummy since my surgery. The boy has a soft and sensitive side that I didn’t know about!

    I’m thinking of you Roxanne.

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