Creek Running North

Such a beautiful boy.

I need a thing like those Tibetan Monk whirly gadgets to keep the cyber-skritches coming continuously until Mid-Feb. Failing that, I will mentally send them whenever I think of Zeke, which is quite often.

Weird, a dog would never understand a human on the other side of the world wanting to scratch his ears because of electronics…

He’s looking pretty comfortable and happy with all of the chicken and turkey.  I think my dog looked about the same last night after her home-made chicken dinner.  And yes, if the fire is still burning, that’s what really counts.  When there’s still plenty of contentment, I think that means a lot.  All is still well with the world.

Aw.  And he is a beautiful dog.

I started reading about Zeke a couple of months ago.  I was instantly drawn into his story because I had an aging dog (Ellie, my first) and was already starting to come to grips with the inevitable future.  I was wondering how well I would handle the decision regarding the shot.  Just the thought of it would cause my eyes to well up a bit!  However, I took solace in the fact that, although a bit slow, she was in good health and didn’t have any evident pain.  I thought it might be a while and that I would continue to enjoy her company for years.

Then, just before Christmas, she wandered off from our property after playing with some neighbor dogs.  This was not something she would normally do.  At first, I was worried, but quite sure she would return soon.  After an hour passed, I started calling around to the few neighbors we have to keep an eye out.  I then started out with my other dog and searched for hours.  We live in the mountains West of Boulder, CO, so it was a daunting task.  I was also concerned that the 1 inch of snow we got that day would be enough to disorient her and hide the smells she would normally use to navigate home.  I posted flyers, contacted the nearest shelter, and got my neighbors involved in the search.  When night fell and the temperature dropped to 10 degrees, my stomach was in knots and I was at the door and windows every ten minutes looking for her.  This continued for three days, with me taking time off of work to drive and hike the neighborhood all day long. 

Then we got three feet of snow and all hope was lost.  I was able to be ‘manly’ about the whole thing until then, but that harsh realization made the tears come.  I’ve had many people tell me that she might have known that something was wrong with her and she just slinked off to die.  While that is a more tolerable thought than her getting lost and freezing to death or becoming lion food, it really isn’t very comforting.

Even though the point is moot, I’ve been wondering which is worse: going through what I did, never knowing what happened and not being able to say goodbye or what Chris is going though, which, while certainty is in abundance, it isn’t any comfort at all.

Since I don’t have anything to bury, I am going to set an aspen hiking stick, with her name carved into it, into our yard where I saw her last.  She was a good one!  Aren’t they all?

Chris,

I only know you through the blog, but please know that I am thinking of you many times a day. 

Zeke is so lucky to have you.

It’s good to see him. :)

Sending hugs and warm wishes,

Natalie

Sometimes I am too sad to come over here and look, afraid that I’ll read the news that Zeke is gone. This photo is so touching. Sweet boy that he is. Warm hellos from the northwest.

I check this website every morning, forgetting about the time difference between here and there. Then I check in the afternoon.He seems to be holding on, what with his appetite. He has a very strong will to live, and a tremendous capacity to love. It will be hard when it actually happens, but I believe that he will tell you when he is ready to go. At my house, we have come to love Zeke. He reminds us so much of Nikko, who we miss and talk about to this day..it’s been 12 years since he died...I definitely know how you feel.

You and Zeke are in my thoughts often every day.  Thank you for revealing yourself as a human being, a mensch.  Thanks for letting us into the sanctum of your profound relationship with Zeke.  The knowledge enriches my life.  I hope that, when you’ve finished your joshua tree book, you will write another about the noble Zeke.  We should all be beloved as you and he are, each in the sight of the other.

He looks the picture of doggish contentment.  I always love to see a photo of him.  He’s a dang good lookin’ guy.  Hmm, you do shine literarily when you write about him.

I have been trying to comment on the Zeke posts for the better part of a month now, but I’ve had such a hard time coming up with something other than “I’m so sorry.” So I think I am going to just thank you for sharing your amazing relationship with your readers and second piny’s comment about how beautiful Zeke is.

As a qualified long-distance Zeke watcher, I have to say that he is looking better this week! That chicken and turkey are hitting the spot...I wonder if I should put MY dogs on the chicken and turrkey diet RIGHT NOW...they are 3 and 8 respectively....couldn’t hurt!

It’s ages since I last commented, but I keep on following the Zeke news in my RSS reader.  I’m glad he’s still happy and loving, and that you’re managing, with difficulty, this ending-time.

Cyberskritch for Zeke and cyberhug for you, mate.

Anyone who has been through it understands. And all your friends and lurking fans have your back. Thanks for sharing Zeke with us.

Take all the good days you can get, partner. Much love to you and your family.

Sean

A friend just email this site. Zeke is beautiful. I have 8 dogs. Lucy is 11, my boxer. Two have left me for Dog Heaven in the last two years. The Dalai Lama says that eventually, your dogs will find you again after they have died. He also said if they were very good dogs, they didn’t come back to this earth....hum....I’m pretty sure that all the dogs I have had in my life, are all here at my home now. So I’m wondering what all this means.

I have heard also that the Buddhist believe that dogs are reincarnated “failed monks.” So that must be part of it. With 8 dogs, I now have a Monastery.

I’m very happy to find this site. I love Chris’s writing and I feel I have found tribe members....woof, woof…