Wrigley

Well I have been having a lot of these moments lately.  I got home last night after hanging with some of the coaches and got home and was expecting to hear Wrigley's little paws pattering down the steps, and running to the door to meet me, and it never happened.

I miss her greatly.  She was my best friend for the better part of close to 13 years.  I had decided that a gift for myself on becoming a master counselor at Camp E-Ma-Etu, and i went to the Wilkesboro Animal Shelter and picked out itty bitty Wriga.  I fell for her hard that first day.  She had a face that every one loved!  

She had the distinct privledge of growing up a camp dog.  She was shown the ropes by Kiki, Doug and Sandy's dog.  They ran everywhere together.  They would be gone for the better part of the day, but guaranteed, they would both be back in time to help put the mountain down at night.  

I remember that her best of times were playing group games with the kids where she would literally run for hours with the boys, chasing balls or bugs around.  She was always good with the kids at camp.  I guess that is what I struggled with most about camp as a whole.  It got to a point where camps would not let resident dogs run.  Wrigley and Kiki and later Cass had a way of calming those kids that were having major issues.  They just had that effect on people.  

It was more of the same when I took the PD position at E-Mun-Talee.  Her favorite thing there was to run the test of manhood with the kids.  She would go on day hikes with the groups, walk with them to the waterfall.  Her favorite spot was at the pond when the kids went swimming.  Wrigley would jump in and chase dragon fly's as she swam the length of the pond, and back again.  She never met a body of water at camp that she didn't like.  

When Nissa and I started dating, she found a new "Best Friend."  I was jealous of Nissa because the time that I spent at camp, Nissa would take her off property and would go different places with her while I had to stay at camp.  They built a very special bond.  Wrigley would later develop a passion for her love of running with Nissa.  She could sense when Nissa was getting ready to go for a run.  She would start tap dancing and bouncing. She loved it!!  Her Aunt Becky was pretty good with her to.  Becky would often bring her dog treats when Nissa and I were working, and she would often go running with Becky to.  

She was the greatest travel dog as well.  I took her home with me when I would travel back to Indiana to see my parents.  Yep you guessed it she stole their hearts as well.  I am sure if my mom and dad were here they could sit here and give me  a Santa's list of stories about her.  

Nissa and I took her camping with us on our honeymoon and again, she was AMAZING.  We had a leash that we tied her to when she wanted out of the tent.  She chewed through the leash, and went and slept under the picnic table that was in our campsite.  So we decided that as our honeymoon moved north to Maine, we would take her with us.  She found a new love.  She loved it up there.  My guess is because it was similar to camp life. She could run up there and come back and sleep inside or outside.  

We were a little nervous how things would go once we new Finn was going to be joining our family.  She did really well and she was very protective of him.  She would lay next to him when we were playing on the floor.  As Finn became more mobile, Wrigley started to keep her distance. She was of course and old lady, and was willing to play with Finn on HER terms.  It really was amazing to see the two of them interact together, and of course when Nissa started running with Finn in the stroller, Wrigley of course had to go with them.  She took her place on the left of the stroller.  I think Wrigley really hated me going, because I threw off the balance of power.  I did not know where she was supposed to walk.  If I walked in front with Wrigley and Nissa and Finn behind then Wrigley would keep stopping and turning around and waiting.  If I walked her behind, she would run to the left and pull the leash until she got her place next to the stroller.  

She left this earth last month and that was the saddest day of my life.  I remember spending about three hours in the back yard watching her labor through pain, and tears just streaming down my face. I knew in my heart and I felt God telling me that we have to let go.  I know today that she is in a much better place, running with Cass, Kiki, and Cocoa on that group game field in Heaven.  I still love her and I find myself talking to her sometimes at night when I come home.  

She has been gone now for a month or two now and I catch myself late at night when I can't sleep getting on pet finder. com or the local adds to see if I see her face on any of the dogs that are looking for a new home.  My heart hurts daily, and I still have her picture as a puppy on my desk at work.  We have a little moment in the mornings as I am getting ready for my students to come to class.  I love you girl!  You will be in my heart forever!!