Fairwell, Kayla

We lost a beloved member of our extended family yesterday.  Kayla, a large, lumbering Golden Retriever who was a long time member of my wife’s brother’s family finally succumbed to time and passed on.

Honestly, Kayla and I were not close.  She would greet me when I arrived at the house and I would dutifully pet her.  But I was not one of those, like my daughter Bridget, who would roll around in the grass with her in her younger days.  So, while I was not one of her favorites, she was unfailingly polite to me.  Occasionally, she would nudge me with that massive head of hers, trying to take our relationship to the next level, but would give up pretty quickly.  I guess I’m just shy around dogs

Nevertheless, I valued Kayla tremendously because of the huge role she played in my brother-in-law’s family, and particularly with my brother-in-law, himself.  Kayla and he were inseparably, except when he was at work.  They had an extraordinary relationship that was apparent to anyone within seconds of seeing them together.  And this is not to suggest that others in the family did not share a similar bond.  Everyone loves his or her pet, but Kayla’s place in that family was really special.  She was both the source and the object of unconditional love every day of her life with them.

We knew her time was near, but it was still a shock to learn she had gone.  Even from my distant place, the news struck hard.  There were tears in my household for a number of reasons.  Certainly, we will miss Kayla from family gatherings.  We also felt for the pain endured by those closest to Kayla, who will miss Kayla so deeply.  But, on a more cosmic level, I felt sad that something that is purely good has left our lives, a totally innocent, loving animal is no longer with us.  Our lives are diminished in that something so good is now gone.

In the movie , The Lion King, we’re told that it’s all part of “the circle of life,” which is supposed to help us accept these kinds of losses. Maybe….over time.  But for now, I grieve for Kayla, those she loved and those who still love her.

Tags: Dogs, Family, Pets

Category: Uncategorized