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<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Dash and Lilly’s date<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Two important events happen in the latter part of November -Thanksgiving and Dash the Wonder Dog’s birthday<\/strong>.\u00a0 I have much to be grateful for this year, but first things first.\u00a0 Last Thursday Dash turned 11 and celebrated with his girlfriend, Lilly.\u00a0 As you can see, he’s licking his chops because she is so darn cute.\u00a0 She not only brought him a spiffy birthday toy<\/strong>, but she also paid for his breakfast! That made her even more attractive.\u00a0 She will turn 11 next month and her owners, Bob and Dahl, and I hope Dash and Lilly will be celebrating for many years to come.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Dash on my leg<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n I was talking about Dash the other day when someone commented, “You know, he’s got you well trained.\u00a0 You need to treat him like a dog<\/strong>.”\u00a0 I’m glad Dash wasn’t within earshot of that comment.\u00a0 A dog, indeed.\u00a0 I am well aware that he has the upper paw in this relationship, but it has been well-earned.\u00a0 After all, he gained his nickname, “The Wonder Dog”, when on his first day in our home, he turned my husband, Alan, from an indifferent dog owner into a complete sap<\/strong>.\u00a0 Over the years he became our loving companion, whether we were sitting on the couch or traveling hours in a car.\u00a0 As long as he was with us, we were all content.\u00a0 He brought joy to others when he worked as a therapy dog and has excited countless children who have approached him for a pat and the occasional lick.\u00a0 In the past four months since Alan’s death, Dash has been my anchor<\/strong>.\u00a0 He has provided structure for my day and a reason to get up in the morning.\u00a0 He demands to be fed (on time!) and jauntily takes me outside for a walk each day.\u00a0 His head resting on my leg is all the comfort I could ask for. At night, he curls up on a pillow next to mine, and as I nuzzle into his downy fur, he looks me in the eye as if to let me know everything will be okay.\u00a0 His snoring can resemble a freight train<\/strong>, but mostly it is a rhythmic, soft sound next to my ear that lets me know I’m not alone.\u00a0 He has a heart condition and eleven is getting up there for a Cavalier, so I don’t know how long I will have him.\u00a0 But I do know this: as long as I am drawing breath, Dash will be spoiled rotten.<\/p>\n So good it has its own Facebook page<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n As for Thanksgiving, obviously I will have an empty chair at my table this year.\u00a0 There have been some moments when I’ve thought about pulling the covers up<\/strong> over my head until January 2 and just let the holidays slide by.\u00a0 But on reflection, I realized that although life will never again be the same for me, I am lucky to have had almost four decades with a wonderful husband.\u00a0 Over the past four months I have been blessed by the warm embrace of family and friends, <\/strong>who have sustained me through a very tough time. What better time than the holidays to celebrate that?\u00a0 So especially this week as we pause to give thanks, I want to express my gratitude to my family, friends and to so many of you who have reached out to me.\u00a0 You have put the “thanks” in my Thanksgiving.\u00a0 I wish everyone the very happiest of holidays this week.<\/strong>\u00a0 Remember to have that second slice of pie!!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Suzanne Sparrow Watson Two important events happen in the latter part of November -Thanksgiving and Dash the Wonder Dog’s birthday.\u00a0 I have much to be grateful for this year, but first things first.\u00a0 Last Thursday Dash turned 11 and … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dash-on-my-leg-300x243.jpg\")
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