Exactly one year ago today, (Feb. 15, 2022) we had to say goodbye to our dog, Stuart. He was going on 18-years-old and had been a registered therapy dog for more than 12 years. His health was failing. It took a few weeks to pass on the information to his friends at nursing homes and schools that his days were winding down. We remember standing with him in the veterinarian’s office and saying goodbye to him for the very last time.
About six weeks later, we adopted another dog from the Southside Animal Shelter. During this year of many difficult situations that both my family and friends have encountered, our new family member, Simon has been our bright light at the end of the tunnel.
A few weeks later, the young lady that was known as “Stuart’s Girlfriend” passed away. Stuart and I had visited with Christi in her room at Manor Care Nursing Home for 10 years. She was such a sweet gal. I got permission to visit Christi one time with Simon. It really touched my heart that the two of them bonded in just a few minutes.
Lyn and I have been dealing with some physical problems also. I took a bad fall and messed up my spine and back. I was under orders to not move about much and no heavy lifting. We learned that Simon was a very proficient canine nurse. He spent many hours each day sitting on my lap and monitoring my healing progress.
A couple of months after that, Lyn really hurt her back. She also was instructed to take it very easy. It was astounding to see Simon double his canine nursing duties. He had spent most of his time with me until Lyn got hurt. It was so special to see him hop up into her chair with her and spread the canine love.
Members of Lyn’s family had been dealing with medical problems this year also. Even with her physical / back problems, she spent lots of time connecting with her family and helping any way that she could.
I lost a few family members in the last few months. By far the toughest was the death of my son, Mark. He suffered for over half of his life with alcohol addiction. He dealt with so many peaks and valleys over the years. He stayed with us a few times when things were not going well and he was homeless. I don’t think his passing was a big surprise but it was and still is very heart-breaking.
I also lost a couple of cousins in the last few weeks. Sue Ellen Johnson was my cousin on my father’s side of our family. Her mom and my dad were brother and sister. I also lost a cousin on my mother’s side. He lived in Knoxville, Tennessee. His sister, who lives in Texas lost her husband that very same week. I can’t imagine losing a sibling and a spouse in less than a week.
After experiencing these tough times this last year, one more terrible thing happened last week. A wild animal, probably a weasel got into the pen with our chicken girls and we lost two of them. This was very tough on both of us. Those girls are part of our family and they all have names.
There have been other things that have been tough to deal with, but I’m really beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
We have so many wonderful, special friends and family and many have come forward and made things much better.
I was interrupted during the writing of this article. Simon reminded me that this was Sunday. Beside it being Super Bowl Sunday, it is also Puppy Bowl Sunday. We stopped our article production and went back into the house to watch the 19th Annual Puppy Bowl.
During the first half of the contest, if the puppies got excited and started barking and running around, Simon would start growling, barking and sometimes jumping toward the television.
Lyn and I couldn’t stop laughing. Finally, Simon figured out those crazy dogs were on the television and not in our house or our backyard. He then took a nap until the second half began.
I bet he sleeps through all of the Super Bowl. Well, at least until his dinner time.
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools. He can be reached through email at fdshonk@aol.com.