10/2/2023 0 Comments A treasured memory![]() As no one had claimed him, he got to come home with me. The other strong bond of friendship that was forged was that of me and Flynn. I knew that I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless. Seeing both father and daughter comfort and care for distressed animals with such love inspired me to want to dedicate my life to the same cause. He was the male and older version of Skye. He was chief veterinarian at the hospital. I later learned that it was Skye’s father who had taken care of Flynn. It was a gift that was to change my life in remarkable ways. She taught me to believe in the strength that was in me and helped me see my natural affinity to help heal those in pain. Skye and I developed a strong and deep friendship over time. The trauma of seeing the injured no longer overwhelmed me. While there I felt an immense sense of peace. I’d visit some of the other patients in the hospital, helping Skye to feed them or just sit with them. I was careful in remembering to sing under my breath so that Skye would not hear me, but I got a feeling that nothing really escaped her notice.Īfter my visits to Flynn, I’d stay longer at the hospital helping out. It was after I had begun to sit with him, stroking his fur gently and singing nursery rhymes from my childhood that he was coaxed into eating again. He had at first refused to eat after the surgery. I visited the hospital every day, checking up on Flynn. No one had come to claim him and there were no reports of a lost dog anywhere. I inadvertently developed a responsibility for him. We left the hospital with Skye promising to keep us updated. Skye, we later learned that was her name, returned to assure us that the Flynn (Daryl and I later named him) was in good hands and we were not to worry. Not knowing what else to do, Daryl and I took a seat on the multi-colored plastic chairs in the waiting room. I felt him lifted from my arms and then he disappeared into a restricted area. Daryl and I had not said a word she summed up what had happened from just a glance. She noticed the dog in my arms before she looked at me. It was probably this that had me in awe of her. She seemed so poised and confident in handling trauma for her youthful age. ![]() Her dark hair was tied back in a ponytail allowing unrestricted view of her smile as she nodded in understanding. She was standing at the reception counter at the animal hospital helping an elderly couple fill in some forms. It was the pain in his eyes that had me spring into action so I ran over to the nearest house looking for help. There was no tag on the dog and no one had come chasing after him. Daryl looked as if he was about to lose the contents of his stomach on the sidewalk, but I just about kept it together. Daryl and I raced over to where the dog lay bleeding, whimpering faintly mercifully alive. My heart thundered and I felt the sharp sting of fear the split second before the dog and car made contact. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a blurred shape run across the street. I heard the screeching of wheels before I saw the car careering around the corner. Reminiscing on that day brings on a surreal like quality. There was hardly any activity on the usually busy street. ![]() We made our way over to my house talking animatedly about our favorite parts of the movie, amusing the passersby with our antics. The movie had lived up to expectation and we were buoyed with excitement long after the last credit rolled. ![]() After a sleepless night we stood in the snake long queue outside the movie theater to see Transformer. Daryl and I were returning home from the movie theater. The sky was crystal blue, the sunlight almost blinding. I remember the day it happened all so clearly. The events leading up to my twelfth birthday may have started out ominously, but that year was cause for a double celebration. One year my birthday was made all the more special. My birthday is my favorite time of the year as it is the day set aside to celebrate my life and of course all the gifts one receives. In addition, my life’s path was made clear to me I found a passion that had probably changed the trajectory of my life. This memory serves more than just being a reminder of a great story to tell my grandchildren one day the gift of the experience was the forging of friendships that would last a lifetime.
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