It’s only been two days since Snickers passed, but it feels like much longer. I hadn’t realized how much life she brought to it when she was here. After all, she had been a little old lady for years now. She did a lot of sleeping or lounging in the sun.
Wiggles, my 3 year old, is full of energy – always up for a walk, bolting out the dog door to chase the squirrels who dare to breech the perimeter of her backyard, barking at Snickers to get her wound up. Snickers was my quiet little old lady and Wiggles was the noisemaker.
I thought.
I was wrong.
Without Snickers, it’s been so quiet. I had gotten used to her little snores and her tiny nails going clickety-clack on the floor as she shifted from dog bed, to sofa, to my bed, to outside as she located the best sunny location for lounging.
I was so accustomed to her greeting me with bunny hops and barks of welcome every time I came home that the silence now is deafening without them.
She used to click-clack across the floor many times a day so she could be near me. Sometimes she wanted to be pet. Sometimes she wanted to make sure I didn’t forget she was waiting for her next meal (I never forgot). Sometimes she just wanted to be near me.
Wiggles misses her too. She’s been unusually quiet and restrained these past two days.
I’ve already started some new activities with her to help us both move forward.
This morning, I imagined I heard Snickers breathing and snoring gently in my bedroom. It was only my imagination.
In time, we’ll adjust to the silence.