I fell in love last month with a 15-year-old dachsund named Sally and took a few photos that I call A Study in Sally.
Sally with her mom
Despite her grey muzzle, Sally hadn’t lost her curiosity about everything that went on inside and outside the little house we rented in Sonoma with her parents. This may seem a stretch, but she reminded me of my late grandmother. Who was protected and cared for by her family much the same way Sally has always been protected and cared for by hers.
After my grandmother traveled to America, just herself and two young children, Mama, as we called her, remained safely in the family’s bosom for the rest of her very long life. She was almost 99 when she died, and she’d never worked outside the home or become fluent in English. All her needs were provided for by her husband (our Papa) and my parents.
She’d sit riveted to the TV after she’d finished her chores, curious about the world around her. But not curious enough to experience much of it, herself. Venturing out only happened with family to smooth her way. Just like with Sally. And my own dogs.
Comparing my beloved grandmother to a beloved dog may seem insulting to some, but I don’t mean it that way. In America, we care for our pets the way we care for our children, and with the same love. There is no difference, really, with how we care for our family and our pets, because they ARE family.
It was obvious that Sally had the same innocence about life as my grandmother: the innocent entitlement of the always-protected. That taking for granted that protection was always going to be there. How lucky for them!
Sally’s brother, Cyrano, was also on our trip, but it was Sally who captured my heart. Who knows, she may be a reincarnation of my grandmother.
Did she hear the call of the wild? I wondered, watching her stand at the door on her sturdy little legs. (Apologies to Jack London)
And this is her brother, the most perfectly-named Cyrano.
I wanted you to see his dear little face, but really, THIS is my favorite photo of Cyrano: his ears:
Yikes! How gorgeous this piece is…and how wonderful that our little girl dog captured your heart in this way, inspiring you to write it….she’s named after my Momma, you know….So I say my much missed momma’s name 50 times a day! Sally sends you licks…so does Cyrano….xx
This is such a touching post. I could feel the live you had for your grandmother through your words. There are things that harken us back to a time, place or person. The gentle sweet Sally was your muse for that. 🙂
Too cute! Thanks for sharing. My dad would absolutely love this post.
Since my mother and her sister recently passed, I miss them a whole lot. It was losing both of my moms within a short time. Now where I live sometimes I wake up and look out my back yard window to see 2 snowy egrets nearby. It makes me smile and reminds me that those we love are never far away. Once I saw 3 of them and felt is was them and their mother (the only grandmother I ever knew). It is a great way to start the day.
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Yikes! How gorgeous this piece is…and how wonderful that our little girl dog captured your heart in this way, inspiring you to write it….she’s named after my Momma, you know….So I say my much missed momma’s name 50 times a day! Sally sends you licks…so does Cyrano….xx
This is such a touching post. I could feel the live you had for your grandmother through your words. There are things that harken us back to a time, place or person. The gentle sweet Sally was your muse for that. 🙂
I’m such a sucker for posts about dogs. This was a particularly good one!
Too cute! Thanks for sharing. My dad would absolutely love this post.
Since my mother and her sister recently passed, I miss them a whole lot. It was losing both of my moms within a short time. Now where I live sometimes I wake up and look out my back yard window to see 2 snowy egrets nearby. It makes me smile and reminds me that those we love are never far away. Once I saw 3 of them and felt is was them and their mother (the only grandmother I ever knew). It is a great way to start the day.