Tag: pets

Posted in 2026, Dreams

Commitment and Change

Posted on by nancyb422

I have lived a life of problems with change and commitment. Changing jobs, breaking up with obviously terrible boyfriends. I guess once I was committed, it was hard to change because I hate change. So, fast forward….

Our dear Wally, a chihuahua/terrier mix, passed away last March at the age of about 15. His last year was not filled with vets and illness, but just a slow decline where you know he won’t get better, but those good days, you prayed they would continue. My friend, who communicates with animals, told me both before and after Wally passed, that he knew he was loved and he’s coming back. Probably around this time of year, in the form of a tan chihuahua. Laugh all you want, I believe it!

My son and daughter-in-law were over on Sunday for dinner, and she suddenly started sending me links to dogs! My brother-in-law out of the clear blue sky, sent me one too! I contacted the agencies on both, but liked the sound of the second, Missy, history better. So I got my husband on board, and sent in an application, spoke with the rescue coordinator, and went to bed. And Dreamed.

I dreamed I had rsvp’d to go to Kyle Richards’ wedding in California! But I had just been IN California, and didn’t want to fly back. But they were waiting for me! They had a dress for me! “You need to take responsibility”, someone said. Next, I see in my dream, a baby I’m supposed to be taking care of! Whose baby? Not mine – I’m 65! Who is taking care of them?

Ugh – change and commitment! Do we want another dog? We like to come and go as we please, but is it because Wally was so incapacitated towards the end and couldn’t go to my brother-in-law’s kennel? Should we think back and watch the videos of when Wally first arrived and how we’d play with him? Is a dog what our home needs? Someone else for the two of us to think about and care about?

I don’t know the answer, but I found out this morning that Missy, the dog we were interested in, has an adoption pending. Did the fates answer the question “Are we ready for another?” by giving her to someone else? My friend said our next dog will come to us when we’re not looking, so I think I will put aside the pet rescue websites and be patient.

Another part of my dream involved riding my e-bike. In two separate instances, I put the bike down, tucked it away, and when I returned, it was gone. Both times Pete Hegseth had walked by. Did he steal both of them? I’ll never know. I woke up.

Posted in 2025, family, Home, life, Memories, thoughts, Writing

My Routine Has Changed

Posted on by nancyb422

Last Tuesday, our dog Wally passed away. I wrote about it on my family stories site.

Now when I come downstairs in the morning, there are no pee pads to check (and no floor surveillance!) and no breakfast to make.

Some days he’d be waiting for me and other days, he slept for a few more hours but my routine was always the same.

I continue to say “Good Morning” and “Good Night” in the direction of his bed(s) and when I come into the house I still peek around the door to see if he’s there.

I know someday that will stop, but for now, I keep his spirit alive.

Wally in his early days 2012
Posted in 2024, life, Memories, thoughts

Decisions Decisions!

Posted on by nancyb422
Dogs or cats?

I had a cat for 14 years. We adopted a dog 2 months after the cat passed away; he has been part of our family for 12 years. I didn’t grow up with either so both were new to me!

Chuckie Finster Benson, our cat, came into our home from his barn birth when he was a few months old in 1998. He had the most beautiful coloring and since he was orange, and our son was a fan of RugRats, it made sense to name him after the orange-haired boy Chuckie.

Maybe because he had barn cat in his blood, he preferred to spend his summers outside. He spent his nights in the winter in the basement, otherwise, I would find him on my head trying to wake me up at 3 am.

We would find him in the strangest locations over the years, always someplace warm like behind the couch on the radiator cover, inside the dryer on some freshly dried clothes, and always in the basket of blankets in the living room.

He wasn’t a cuddly cat but became one as he got older. He loved to sit right right next to me in my chair. I guess it was just another place to be warm!

When he died in 2012, we were all very sad.

So I started looking at rescue dog advertisements and found Wally.

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I mean really, how could you resist that face? He put on a good show at the Humane Society, letting us all crowd around and pet him. As soon as we got home, he latched onto my husband and that was it. Wally will fight you to the death to protect his man!

Wally was left at the shelter so he was likely 2 or 3 years old when we took him home. It’s been 12 years and he has slowed down. He still loves his lunchtime walks down to the corner and back and walking out to the edge of our yard to sniff all his favorite spots. He comes bounding back from his trip like he’s two years old again because he knows there is a treat at the end of his run!

Chuckie was easier because he could be left to roam. We could go away for the weekend and our neighbor would keep her eye on him and check that he had food in the house. Very easy.

Wally is a prickly pear so you want him to love you. So many people have been fooled by his wagging tail that they don’t notice the lip quiver that signals a snarl and snap coming!

I’m glad I’ve had one of each to experience having a pet but my answer would be Cats.