Lu-Seal

The 18th of August marked seventeen years to the day since I found my dog Lucille.

To commemorate the day (and her) we packed up the truck and headed to Malibu with a cooler full of strong cocktails and some hot dogs. I also packed Lucy's ashes. She loved the beach and I thought it would be fitting to leave a little of her there permanently.

Once we arrived I stepped into the water, with Lucy in a pretty pink container. I thought about her and all that she means to me and I told her how very much I missed her and that I hope she knows that. And then I said, "If you're still with me or if you can hear me it would be great if you could give me a sign. No big whoop, but it would be great to hear from you." And I walked a little bit further into the water and sprinkled in her ashes. That's when I looked up, and there, right in front of me, was the sweetest little seal. Just swimming around and having a fine old time. 

(You should know that I was very fond of saying that at times Lucille looked remarkably similar to a seal. Lu-seal, I'd say.)

And then the seal dipped under the water and disappeared. For a brief amazing moment I feel like I saw my sweet girl again and it made me happier than I can say. 

I don't know much, but I do know when to shut up and be grateful.

So thanks. Thank you thank you thank you.

Sittin' on the porch with Brenda

I'm about to write a sentence that I never in my life thought I would ever ever write....I just got off the phone with my dog psychic.

So there it is, I've laid it out for you. That's where I officially have landed in my life. Dog psychics. 

Things go a little sideways and you find yourself on the phone with a housewife in Florida who specializes in canine communication. It's an easy leap when you're falling apart. 

My favorite thing about her is that she doesn't put on a big show. She doesn't deepen her voice or mumble around, she just chats in a real "we're just two gals having some cheap Zin on the porch" kind of way. Real sing songy. And that's what makes me buy what she's selling. 

Here's the truth, when someone says psychic, someone else says, lame. But Brenda (that's her name, don't wear it out) has made me feel better about things. She really has. She's listened to me and let me cry and ask weird questions and she's never laughed. Not even once. Plus, she seems to know things about my dog that I thought only I knew. 

And in the end, and most importantly, she gave me peace. She gave me peace at a time when I needed it most.

And for that I thank her and I always will. Brenda, my Floridian dog psychic, she's the real deal.