writing and grief

 It is the monthly meeting of the IWSG.

Our dear pal Bella was euthanized yesterday, at our home, which was the best thing about a terrible thing. We aren't normal and may not be for quite awhile. We miss her every second. There. I didn't think I was going to post today but yesterday I wrote an obituary for her because my natural response to pain is to write. So even though it might not seem like it belongs here, I assure you it does. Writing it helped me make sense of the whole thing.

So here:

Bella Morrison, born April, 2012 in Labrador, died February 3^rd,2026, at her home in Prospect surrounded by her loving people.

Bella was born in Labrador, probably in Sheshatshiu. She was sent by plane with her sister to meet her folks, Jan and Ron, when she was about 8 weeks old. She was a lively girl right from the beginning, but always sweet with it. We called her circus dog because she was fearless in the woods, getting on old logs that were sometimes four feet off the ground, like a tight-rope walker. In the fall of her first year we brought her home to Labrador where we all lived for the next five years. In Labrador she got to experience a completely autonomous life. We’d go off to work and she’d do her day. It usually started by visiting Hector, an elderly fellow who lived next door to us. They’d sit on the porch and discuss philosophy. We only know of other activities she got up to when we were about to leave Labrador. One woman, (someone we really didn’t know – and yes that is possible in a town of 500) told us she regularly took Bella with her in her truck when she went to do errands. Bella had canine friends that I hope she is frolicking with now – three dogs from Sheshatshiu who would come by our house to pick her up – Chopper, Panda, and Junior. When we came back to Nova Scotia she settled in nicely – although she had more constraints naturally, but she was always ecstatic to visit her home province. Here in Nova Scotia she made lots of friends – mainly humans, because the dogs here weren’t so free to choose. She particularly loved Sherri who she considered a pack mate and Sherri’s partner Colin. Bob and Joan were also favourites, especially Joan who always had a treat for her. She also loved her brothers and sister – Jake and Sarah, Jesse and Cal and put up with those young kids, Roric and Harrison, although she got pretty jealous of the attention Ron would pay them.

The love of her life was Ron. Back when she was still a pup he went first to Labrador and Bella and I travelled by plane three months later. When she saw him she became a quivering mass of emotions and had to sit on his lap while he drove us from Goose Bay to North West River in the truck.

As I told her repeatedly as she was leaving today – Bella is a good dog. Ron wanted a dog from Sheshatshiu because they always have a fair bit of native dog in them – and that makes them comical, biddable and ever so loving. Her only sin was that she was mad for vegetables and didn’t see why she shouldn’t pick them out of the garden when she had a hankering. Unlike the brother she never met, Hoagy, she was very good at sticking close to home and only did walk-abouts when she was really bored. She loved playing tug-a-war with Ron and fetch – especially with the so-called Red Bone which was really purple. She loved going up to High Head and running free and that is where we will scatter her ashes.

*******************************************************************

Thanks for reading if you did. And now back to normal broadcasting.