My last two posts have been a little heavy with the sharing of the anniversaries of the passing of my sister and mother. It helps to share their losses, but in doing so, I’m also celebrating and honoring their places in my life and keeping those memories alive for others.
With warmer temperatures (even here in Northeast Florida) and Day Light Savings Time occuring tomorrow, I feel a bit lighter and I look forward to long warm days as we move to the high temps of 70s and 80s. Of course, the intense heat of this region will follow soon, but I’m happy to adapt after the rewards of mild winters, it’s a small trade-off.
The other day we all took a hike over to Ravine Gardens National Park, a natural wonder tucked away in the city of Palatka, Florida. According their website, ‘Ravine Gardens State Park is one of the nine New Deal-era state parks in Florida. The park has two ravines up to 120 feet deep with steep banks at 45-degree angles.’
Being that March is high-Azalea season here, it was a beautiful sight to experience this beautiful place, and the dogs enjoyed it, too.
Of course, as soon as I took in the vast amount of steps that submerge visitors to all levels of the ravines I thought of my little Quint, a three-year old blind Maltipoo. I worried if the hike might be too much for him.
Quint, as many know, came to me seven weeks after the passing of my late-husband Rich when I flew out to San Diego to fetch him when he was only eight weeks old. He made the flight back to live with me in Georgia, accompanied me on a road trip to New Jersey, and braved a new world with me when we moved to rural Florida.
Quint is a trooper and with two big dog housemates now, he has become more assertive and active, a valued part of a loving pack.
Yesterday, as he acclimated to the steps, he became more confident with each one. After about the third round, he layed down, however, and crossed his paws as if to say, “no more!” But, after a short break, he was back on the trail, taking things step by step, only stopping when I took a few photos while keeping him on a very tight leash so as not to have us both slide off the trail!
I realized after awhile that sometimes I limit his growth as a dog when I worry too much about him and maybe overprotect him. That’s a natural and reasonable inclination – to worry about somebody or something that faces a new challenge each day. But, Quint doesn’t let his lack of vision stop him from living his best life in the moment. In encouraging him to keep going on that trail, he ended up really enjoying his hike. A lesson for us all.
I realize that by patiently getting him to take things step-by-step, I was instilling in him the confidence he needed to keep on going, something we often tell each other when trying to get through our own challenging and uncertain moments in the never-ending processing of our grief. In his own special way, Quint did that for me in my earliest stage of widowhood.
Adventurous and bold Jackson of course enjoyed exploring as he always does, and Penny, an Australian Shepherd kept coming back to check on Quint and me when we couldn’t always keep up. One of the sweetest moments of the walk occured when Quint and I arrived at the bottom of the ravine to a fresh-water spring. Penny and Jackson had already had a drink, but Penny, seeing Quint cautiously check out the terrain, went and took a drink so Quint could hear and understand water was available. At home, she will often let Quint drink first, even when she is very thirsty.
Spending time in such a beautiful and peaceful scenic place, was a much-needed tonic after an eventful and challenging week, and a special way to welcome the spring season. I know for many of us, time spent with our loving canines, and other pets, is what keeps all of us positive and hopeful.
I hope wherever life finds you, you are able to find a peaceful place of your own. Enjoy the additional light of each day springing forward.
