The end of summer feels sad to me. It comes swiftly in New England; the air is chillier and the sun goes down too soon. This year, Art and I spent the last week of August with friends on a secluded lake in New Hampshire, where the owners of the cabin left a book for visitors to record vacation memories. Here’s one of their entries that strikes a familiar bittersweet chord.
September '02
“We said goodbye to our dear labrador Lucy today a few days past the happy celebration of her 15th birthday. She had been in failing health. A trip to the local vet revealed that she had developed advanced heart failure.
In her 15 years, Lucy weathered many changes, graciously adapting to new homes, a new marriage (she was our ring bearer), and the arrival of a younger dog – although here she initially protested by turning her back on us and facing the wall for two straight days. More recently she welcomed a rambunctious boy who considered her his personal pony.
Lucy befriended all she met and wove herself into the fabric of our lives in ways that are difficult to describe. She had a great sense of purpose and of people generally. She was a sensitive soul and a master of non verbal communication. When Lisa had a miscarriage some years back, Lucy stopped eating for a time sensing her grief.
Last year on a visit to our vacation cabin in New Hampshire, Philip was exhausted and unhappy after a long trip. Not yet a year old he was still not fully familiar with his vacation surroundings. When we tried to put him to bed at his usual hour, he howled and howled for more than an hour. He cried and shrieked and would not be consoled. At this point Lucy came into Philip’s room and curled up on the floor next to his playpen. Lucy looked at Philip, and he looked at her, and after a few minutes he was asleep. Lucy slept by his side for the rest of the trip and he never cried again.
We buried Lucy on the shore of the lake she loved. As we lowered her into the ground, a mournful chorus of loons sang out from the water to welcome her. She had a wonderful life and enriched ours immeasurably.
Good girl, Lucy. Good dog.”