026: A New Best Friend

Nacho

For four years, my daughter Maggie and her husband Ricardo had an awesome best friend: a border collie named Nacho. Playful and energetic, Nacho was so smart and incredibly loyal… he loved the two of them as only a good dog knows how to love.

But towards the end of last year Nacho was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. All through his illness, he continued to be affectionate and gentle. He never complained. On January 1^st, he quietly passed away, at home. Definitely not a good start to the New Year.

Everyone who knew and loved Nacho has been supportive of Maggie and Ricardo, and the two of them have thrown themselves into their work. We’ve all tried to help them get over our loss… and yesterday, the Universe handed us an unexpected gift.

I had gone outside to cut some flowers, and while I stretched up to reach a bright pink cluster of bougainvillea, I heard a neighbor call out to me. I felt a little surprised because this woman and I have never spoken before. The family has lived on our block for just a short time and another neighbor told me they would only be living here until  their new place got finished and they could go there. The moving truck parked outside the big orange house across the street led me to conclude that they would be leaving soon.

I turned to see what she wanted. No introduction… she got right to the point. “Do you want a dog? I have one I am giving away.”

“Oh no,” I told her. “Our life is too busy and our schedule is too hectic for a dog. It wouldn’t be fair…”

“Well we don’t have room for him and the other two dogs in our new house,” she replied. “That’s him, sitting over there.”

I looked towards her garage and I saw the sweetest tan and white Corgi. Oh my goodness how could she leave him behind? “Just a minute,” I said.

Maggie had come to the house for lunch and was just about to take her shower and then go back to TTT for the afternoon part of her work day. I’m sure my face must have looked stupefied. “What is it Mom?” she asked.

“This is going to sound really weird,” I said. “I know it is too soon, but Maggie, the people who live on the corner are moving out and they can’t take one of their dogs. He looks so cute, and he’s a Corgi. Do you want to come with me to see him?” Maggie has always loved Corgis.

She couldn’t hold back and she picked up that pup; she looked so happy. “Can I take him to my mom’s house and get to know him a bit?” she asked the owner. The woman seemed only too happy to oblige.

Settling in

Poor little thing. We could see that while his physical needs had been met, the dog had somehow been traumatized. He was not unfriendly but he did act wary.

Ricardo left his work and came over to our house to meet the potential new pet. He came through the door, got down on the floor and the dog came over and had a good sniff. Ricardo didn’t sniff back but I could see that he was being reeled-in by those big needy brown eyes and funny fox-like face.

As he scratched behind the little dog’s ear, Ricardo looked affirmatively at my daughter. Then they got into their car … and drove home with their new best friend.

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