When many people hear that classic phrase “Oh, Captain, my Captain”, their thoughts race to the incredible movie starring the great Robin Willimas ‘Dead Poets Society”. Or maybe it is Walt Whitman’s iconic poem “O Captain! My Captain’ that brings back memories of those that made a difference in our lives.
Mine mind goes to an incredible blind Huskey named of all things Captain. He helped to heal one of my deepest heartbreaks.
Years ago, I moved to Des Moines, Iowa on a cold January day and started a new Job on February 1st. My new journey was happening, and I was thrilled, but suddenly the world shut down.
21 days after my move to a city where I knew no one but new co-workers (I sort of knew them, polite hello’s and have a nice night kind of thing. I was the new kid so it’s to be expected), Covid hit, and everything shut down. Restaurants, bars, theaters, comedy clubs, nothing was open for socialization. The only things open were gas stations, and grocery stores. It wasn’t awful, it was just a new way to function in society. Yet, I felt so lost, so far away from home and friends, but I had my puppy! It was on March 23rd that my world crashed. My “puppy” Olive had to be put down.
“I met Olive when she was just three weeks old, a rescue born on Christmas Eve. We were inseparable for twelve years, and she was my constant companion. When she was diagnosed with cancer, my world shattered. Despite her surgery and treatment, the prognosis was grim. With a heavy heart, I made the difficult decision to put her to sleep. I held her, sang to her, and told her how much she meant to me. Her loss was devastating, and the healing process is ongoing. But I found solace in the companionship of Captain, a rescue Husky adopted by my landlord.
Captain is a rescue Huskey that my landlord adopted and the question came up and was true, who recused who? I think Captain rescued me. Captain was blind and had to have both of his eyes removed. It was due to a genetic disease that also caused him to loss all his color, and soon he became a beautiful white.
Only a day after Olive’s passing Captain and his owner Zac sent flowers to me in honor of my little bear. When I stopped down to the office to thank Zac and Captain for their thoughts a new friendship was born, I got to know Captain (and of course Zac, my bud). After a few days I asked if I could walk Captain. I needed to breath fresh air, talk to a dog, and just feel that freedom of being with another heart beat in the world.
Over time, the walks helped me to revisit the love I had for the time I had with my amazing, one of kind Olive. It brought up great memories (and many tears) but Captain helped fill a void in my heart.
Now that Captain and I are 930 miles apart, I often think of our walks and how that “Horror Dog” (Zac’s nick-name for him, not mine) helped me through the loss of my girl, my Olive. For that, I will forever be grateful!
Oh Captain! My Captain!
Thank you!
Comments