For me, the month of March is an emotional cocktail of highs and lows.
ELBEE Oh no. Here she goes oversharing again.
Last year I wrote a post for my beloved, funny brother Stan, the unofficial Jewish dog whisperer. His birthday was March third. Sadly, he passed away at 47 but I did inherit Larry, his brilliant Border Collie/Aussie mix.
ELBEE I’m not sure if that last sentence is appropriate.
GUS I think it’s sweet that Larry helped her.
Somehow I had forgotten that my dad passed away in March. It was a long time ago when I was a senior in high school. The other night, as I was lighting a candle for him, I realized that even after all these years, he’s a big part of my March emotions.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since my gentle giant Charley left us on a March morning, so suddenly but with such grace. The student athlete event that he worked the night before his death is coming up again.
On the bright side, Elbee, Gus and Riley, our Golden Retriever and senior pack member, all celebrate birthdays this month. Elbee even shares a birthday with my son-in-law Jay.
ELBEE That’s ironic. As you may know, Jay is a cat person.
Yesterday I was up in the Santa Monica Mountains for a “mental health” hike,” appreciating how beautiful it is this time of year. Side note to the daughters, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Wandering does not mean you’re lost.” Back to the mountains. It was breezy and cool. The summer heat hadn’t set it. The rattle snakes without issues were still sleeping. The first blooms of the wild flowers were peeking their heads out. 
I was totally at peace, enjoying the views and the tranquility. Thinking about my hikes with Charley, I headed down a short steep hill that reminds me of him. He would always stand at the top, under the same tree, before following me down.
Call me crazy, but over the past year so many people have told me that Charley would somehow find me the right dog that I kept waiting for a sign. More than once, it drew me to that spot in the mountains where I would stand and look out at the ocean and hope for that sign.
Yesterday, resting in the shade of “his” tree, I knew with certainty that it was time to start the search for another dog. Maybe that was Charley’s message, a message of new beginnings.
Elbee and Gus are doing amazing things so how wonderful would it be to have another one learn from them. Although at ten Elbee continues to be a hard working diva, I know he can use some back up.
The thought of finding the right dog, a dog that will learn from and help Elbee and Gus, is overwhelming but exciting at the same time. It won’t be a replacement for Charley since he can never be replaced. Instead, I hope that it will continue to honor the memory of Charley and all of the other beautiful therapy dogs that will never be forgotten.
More on my search next week.
