Dillon and I picked up Winston’s ashes last week. It was a sad occasion, but not without its bright spots.
A dog was in the vet's waiting room at the desk where we got the ashes: a Dalmatian puppy, a spotted dog like Winston.
One of the receptionists handed me the box of ashes. It looked an awful lot like a plain ordinary cardboard box. It just didn’t seem like my Winston at all. “Are you sure it’s him?” I asked.
She assured me that it was and pointed out a small label with his name -- and mine.
When we got home, Dillon carried the box in the door. “Winston’s back home,” she announced with a touch of happiness.
Surprisingly, it DID feel a bit like Winston was back. We opened the box and were amazed to find a beautiful brown suede box, wonderfully loved to the touch. The material looked and felt just like my late father’s favorite brown suede jacket. Inside the suede box was a canister with a label: “In loving memory: Winston.”
The box of ashes was 6 or 7 inches square and heavy, weighing four to five pounds. After we admired the box and reminisced for a while, Dillon got ready to leave. As she was going out the door, I noticed a box that arrived that day from Amazon. I thought it contained a laundry bag that I ordered, so I asked Dillon to open it before she left.
To our complete amazement, it was a book called Dog Heaven! This unexpected gift was sent by our vet, Dr. Beasley. Her note said, “In memory of Winston, a great dog whose life was filled with love.” The timing so perfect it could not have been humanly planned.
Dillon and I sat down immediately and read the book. It’s a children’s book with colorful illustrations for preschoolers, but it’s suitable for adults coping with the loss of a dog, too. We easily read it in one sitting. The text and illustrations by Cynthia Rylant describe how dogs in heaven enjoy running free, eating endless dog biscuits, sleeping on clouds and occasional return visits with angels. Sometimes we had to stop to weep.
I've been reading the book to myself at bedtime, when I tend to miss Winston a lot. It helps me fall asleep with sweet thoughts of my Winston in Dog Heaven.
My Dog
Winston (7/4/1996 - 2/15/2008)
My dog, Winston, was a big, happy, handsome Harlequin Great Dane and Labrador Retriever mix. He was a stray who found us in 1997 when he was a year old. People say that I rescued him, but really he rescued me. He weighed 115 pounds, only 10 pounds less than me. I trained him to love cats.
My Cat
My cat, Sapphire, is what everyone calls a “pretty white kitty.” She’s one of the lucky few rescued from the Los Angeles animal shelter. When we adopted her in 2000, she was a year old with a litter of kittens. She trusted Winston from the start.
About Me
- Lynne
- I’m a writer living in Los Angeles with my dog, my cat and my life partner Dillon.
1 comment:
I remember when my first dog died, Silky...I was devestated as a 5 yr old could be...
my Dad sat up talking to me at bed time, telling me that Silky was in heaven...but being tiny, I wanted something tangible I guess...He told me they waited in heaven till you picked a star for them, then they shone every night so you could see them...and we chose a star...and I watched it each night...
It amazed me that so many dogs must of died before, and I felt safe that they were all in heaven watching over the world...
The box sounds beautiful...and how thoughtfull of the vet...in the hustle bustle of the world, its lovely that someone took the time to make such a thoughtful gesture....
hope you and Dillon are going ok..love A
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