She is there … the greatest gift of all

Jennifer Vanderau
Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter

(10/2021) It had been one of those days. The kind you wish had a rewind button. The kind where Murphy’s Law seemed to be gospel – one wrong thing after the other.

When I got home, ready to crash, she was there. Brown eyes, wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

She helped me, made me smile for the first time that day.

**

The engagement ring glittered on my finger. My heart was just about bursting out of my chest. The entire evening was the most romantic of my life.

When I got home, thinking of all the family members I had to call, she was there. Brown eyes, wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

She was the first to celebrate with me.

**

The car needed so much work. I couldn’t believe one, simple inspection could cost that much. It took forever. I had waited most of the day. With everything that had been done, the car should be able to orbit the moon.

When I got home, the house was empty, except for her. Brown eyes, wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

She reminded me that while a car is necessary for transportation, there are much more important things in this life.

**

I couldn’t believe I had gotten the job. The interview went so well, they offered me the position on the spot. On the spot. Is that even done anymore?

When I got home, still bubbling, a little dizzy and utterly astounded, she was there. Brown eyes, wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

She jumped up and down with me.

**

The fight was a big one. The slamming of the door seemed to echo through the house. My chest hurt. I sensed a finality that made me kind of nauseous. This wasn’t good.

When I turned away from the closed door, she was there, a little tremulous this time, but still with brown eyes, slightly wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

Just when I needed it. She let me hug her a lot that night.

**

The homemade dinner tasted amazing. It was so thoughtful. Especially after our rough patch. It gave me comfort. It gave me hope. It had been made for me – everything I liked on a plate.

I smiled as I walked out of the kitchen – I wasn’t allowed to do the dishes, either – and in the living room, she was there. Brown eyes, wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

She seemed to sense the hope, too.

**

Divorce papers are awful. I thought it would work. I thought we would work. It just didn’t. The papers I signed were just black ink on a white sheet saying it wasn’t meant to be. So clinical. So sterile. Everything pared down to words on a page. A callous summation of something that should have been lifelong.

When I got home from the lawyer’s office, she was there. Brown eyes, wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

She didn’t even flinch when I burst into tears and cried on her fur.

**

It was a kid’s movie. A cartoon. I had been spending most evenings binge-watching whatever I happened to land on and tonight, it was a kid’s movie. Ridiculous. But I had hit play anyway. The bright colors appealed to me for some reason.

And when the imaginary friend from childhood whispered, "Take her to the moon for me," I was stunned at the level of pain in my chest. The sob made it past my throat without my permission and I buried my head in the pillow.

When I looked up, she was there, face next to mine, brown eyes, wagging tail and a whole lot of love.

She licked my tears away.

**

I’m sitting on the front porch a few weeks later watching the sunset.

She’s beside me on the swing. Doesn’t seem to mind the motion. I inhale deeply, turn to my right and her brown eyes are there. Where they’ve always been. With me. There for me. Never wavering.

She blinks and I realize in that instant, this, the two of us, is what it’s really all about.

She has never once left my side, through the good times and the bad. She’s my best friend, my loyal companion and together, I know without a doubt we’ll both be just fine.

I ask her if she would like to go for a walk. Her brown eyes sparkle, her tail wags and I see a whole lot of love.

As we wander through the neighborhood that night, our steps are light, in sync. I think we both realize that as long as we’re together, there’s nothing we can’t face.

No matter what happens tomorrow or the next day or the day after that, we’ve got each other and that’s the greatest gift of all.

*****

Jennifer Vanderau is the Director of Communications for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter in Chambersburg, Pa., and can be reached at cvasoc@innernet.net. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at (717) 263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org.