BarkingProse - Part 13

Happy Birthday Journey

by Asher • May 8, 2016

I can hardly believe little Journey is one year old today. It was only a few months ago she was a tiny pup with teeth like needles. Now she’s all grown up and auditioning to be a therapy dog.

I can’t wait to see what Journey learns next. Since mom started training us mutts, I’ve had to take the advanced classes that Journey will be taking. I can’t say I’m wild about going to school, but I’ve learned a lot and I get to go new places with mom.

Soon me and Journey can take our show on the road. We got places to go and people to see.

Stay tuned for Journey’s adventures. There’s a whole new year of surprises waiting for her. We love you Journey!

Tess

Remembering

by Asher • April 27, 2016

Tess

She was my one true love. Nobody can ever replace Tess in my heart. I loved everything about her: the good, the bad, and the silly.

We were joined at the hip and heart. We did everything together except run off to the ravine. Despite all her flaws, Tess never dug under the fence to go with me on an adventure.

I taught Tess how to play with toys. She taught me how to be brave.

Ever since Journey explained how she met Tess on the rainbow bridge, I’ve been aching to talk to Tess. That’s why every chance I get I slip away to the ravine where I stay real quiet hoping Tess will speak to me.

Ash and Tess

I keep asking mom to explain death to me, but she says it’s too complicated. One minute someone you love is right there next to you, next thing they’re gone. But where did they go? And how come you can’t go with them – at least part of the way?

Tess and Ash

Mom told me we need to live in the moment, but I think that’s kinda tricky. You want to remember the good stuff that’s already happened, but you don’t want the past to get in the way of having a good time and making new memories.

Maybe someday it will make sense to me. For now I’m lonesome for Tess and crazy happy that Journey is in my life. I sure love that little mutt.

Journey and Ash

Asher

Don’t Know What To Say

by Asher • April 23, 2016

Ash

I just read Journey’s first Bark. Wow! I knew that little mutt was special, but she never told me about meeting Tess on the rainbow bridge.

I’m having a hard time putting it all together. It’s like part of Tess came back in Journey’s body, but I can’t figure out what that means.

It kinda makes sense in a way. I asked mom to find me a puppy. My half-brother had conveniently just sired a second family.

One female pup was available because she has the dilution gene like me, so she shouldn’t have pups of her own. Mom made a deal with my half-brother to get one of his puppies.

Fast forward a few weeks and Journey comes to Asherpark. First thing she does is run over to the spot where Tess used to hang out. I was just about to mention how she picked the spot Tess liked, when Journey gets herself a drink from the water bowl.

OMG! It was weird. Journey has the same silly way of drinking water as Tess did. Head bobbing up and down like a horse, splash flying everywhere. What the heck?!

Next thing I notice is Journey is sound asleep on her back with her tiny puppy paws straight up in the air. Seeing that made me shiver. There’s only one dog I’ve ever known who slept on her back like that – Tess.

A few weeks later I see how softly Journey takes a treat from mom. Tess was the only one of us Asherpark mutts with a soft mouth. A person wouldn’t even know Tess had teeth when she took a treat. Mom says hand feeding me is like feeding a piranha.

Journey has her puppy craziness but she also has an old soul. I can tell from how she looks at people and how calm she is around mom.

I’m not sure why Journey hasn’t confided in me about meeting Tess on the bridge. Maybe she thinks it’s no big deal. Maybe she doesn’t realize how wonderful it is.

Journey

One of these days I hope Journey tells me more about meeting Tess. In the meantime I plan to visit the ravine whenever the coyotes howl. Tess said she’d come and talk to me there and I don’t want to miss her.