Sometimes a little bit of something wonderful is all we get…and it just has be enough. We said our final goodbye to sweet Holly last Friday. Holly came to Misfit Manor just a few weeks ago. We knew she was a hospice situation but we are wired to assume the best and thought for sure we would have at least a few months with her. She was so incredibly sweet and precious and we enjoyed the time we were able to have with her.
Even though we only knew Holly for a short period of time we are just crushed over losing her. The whole household was off…Solstice stopped eating for a few days…the other Misfits were quiet. You would think that dealing with loss would get easier over time and with so much experience with it. But it definitely does not…it stings every single time. Every time I seem to go through the same cycle of emotions. The stress of having to actually make the decision to say goodbye is always the hardest. I generally have really good intuition (I call it my inner bell). I know when its the right time to say goodbye and I listen and watch the cues from my Misfits carefully….but it is painful nonetheless. This is hands down the hardest part of Manor life. Then there are the days of darkness after they are gone…accepting the reality that I won’t see Holly’s sweet face for a longtime…I have days where I just don’t seem to run out tears. Eventually the dark cloud lifts and my mindset changes to gratitude….I am glad Holly made it here for a least some time and incredibly grateful that I was allowed to care for her and love her. I also know that every minute I have with my Misfits is worth it and I will do it again.
I also feel incredibly grateful for the comfort of the routine and demands the Misfits put on my life. The dogs are fully in the present…they don’t do “later”…they certainly don’t allow me to be a slacker… and I appreciate that. The best medicine, at least for me, when I am feeling down is to be engaged in giving my best effort to them. Every thing is always a group effort here too. I really don’t get any personal time or space…no matter what I am doing…they all have to be involved. Sometimes that can be a little frustrating (I still have to work) but it also is amazing to never be alone. Manor life isn’t easy but it is a wonderful life…I would not trade it for the world.
Whip cream fixes a lot of things…
Because we all felt so droopy over the loss of Holly Bret and I busted out the whip cream can for the rest of the rest of the dogs on Sunday and had a little pawty.
Nothing makes the heart feel lighter than seeing all the Misfits running around playing…and getting whip cream all over their faces! The second they hear the first bit come out of the can…all hell breaks loose.
Living with life coaches…
Living with dogs is like living with a houseful of life coaches…honestly no one stays engaged in the present moment like a dog. Any life coach will tell you that life happens in the present…if you are going to be happy its only going to happen in the present moment.
It’s not lost on me the profound impact the Misfits have on my own ability to stay engaged with the present. Not only are they role models for living in the present but they get over things so quickly (ok..well except Buster…he forgets nothing).
They also teach me so much about trust. They worry about nothing. Now whether they trust me or its just a general trust in the universe…I don’t know…they just assume they will get what they need. Not a moment is spent worrying about tomorrow. I just want to be more like my dogs.
Changing seasons…
Summer is coming to an end soon. We are trying to squeak out every minute of outdoor fun that we can. Rosie’s exercise pool will have to come down this week (always a sad day) but walking at the park will be a lot more pleasant as it starts cooling down and we love seeing the changing colors…I think fall in Kentucky is one of my favorite sights. We enjoy every season here at the Manor…this year each and every moment and memory we make seems more special than usual…the stress of the COVID era makes everything feel more acute or raw. This week the man who originally restored our home and built our vacation rentals passed away from COVID. He and his wife were incredibly kind and generous to Bret and I when we moved. Life feels heavier in the era of coronavirus…like we are all walking around carrying an invisible yoke on our shoulders. Finding and relishing in the good moments has never been more important.
The Misfits and I wish blessings, love and light to everyone. Stay safe and healthy. Don’t forget to check out our Pinterest Page for tons of pet lover content and shop our Misfit Manor store for all of your pawty and gift giving needs!
Nancy & The Misfits