Lily Girl - Who Rescued Who?

I have had pets my whole life.  When I grew up in San Antonio, dogs and cats filled the hallways and rooms throughout my entire childhood into my teens.

When I moved out on my own after college, I rescued two cats. They were with me for almost 15 years.

When my Mom and I moved in together in 2008, we bought her a sheltie, as her beloved dog had passed away just a few months before the move to Fort Worth.

Then in 2012, my boyfriend (at the time) got a rescue pitbull mix.  After our breakup, there were many months in limbo, with him wanting her while I was bonding with her.

Eventually, we agreed I should keep Lily.

Lily Girl and I have a very close relationship. I actually consider her my best friend!

We have been alone together since 2015.  My Mom's dog, Izzy, passed away.  So, it is just Lily and I in the house.

I don't know why, but am very surprised how close we are. Of course I am SO thankful, tho!  She's kinda like a comfort dog, even though she wasn't trained to be one. Our connection with each other is very strong, filled with love, and care. You can see it!

Just last Saturday morning about 4am, I was crying.  She was sleeping, but shot straight up to listen better, realized I was crying, then inched towards me to show me she was there and to provide comfort.  Every time I cry, she will come up to me to console me.

And of course she's waiting every single day by the front door for when I come home.

We actually imitate each other, as well. I will pretend to sneeze and then she will actually sneeze. Or if I take a deep breathe, she will take a deep breathe (kind of like a big sigh, if you can picture that).

When Lily greets me at the door, after we say our hellos and I ask her how her day was (lol), I will walk in further and put my purse down in the next room. Notice I didn't say, "To go get the mail," because in a few minutes we will go check the mail together! Seriously. But, while walking into the other room, she deliberately walks in front of me slowly with her tail wagging, as she looks up and back at me.  Her happy wagging tail gently on my legs is another way of telling me she's happy to see me.

We also go together to numerous parks across the area.  She LOVES getting out side!  And she can tell just by how I'm getting dressed if it's for work, errands, or walking.  If I have my walking clothes on, she immediately reacts with excitement!

For having animals in my life for almost every year I have been alive, I am surprised that Lily is the first pet I am this close to.  

I am thinking it's due to several things.  The most obvious is: we are alone.  It's just her and I.  And, I also try and spend time with her taking her on walks in the neighborhood (almost daily now) and also at parks across the metroplex, so that time together exploring nature bonds us also.  And I also think my soberness has a lot to do with our strong connection. I am more present, less time in bed (I would be hungover for hours), I am more active because I feel refreshed when I wake up, and I am home more.

There is a saying that is so true.  Who Rescued Who?  I feel she has rescued me.  I can't begin to express how much she means to me and how thankful I am that she is in my life.  She has brought me such comfort and joy.

I actually tear up several times a month, when I think that some day she will pass away (she's 10 years old right now). I am tearing up now.

Once she is gone, everything I do will remind me of her. She follows me (or supervisors me? lol) when I mow or do any yard work.  We check for lizards together around the outside of the house. She is ALWAYS in the same room I am in.  And if I happen to go upstairs while she is outside going pee or getting some sun (she loves to sit in the sun!), she will come in, notice I'm not in the living room, and then proceed to check every single room until she finds me.

I love the Fall and Winter now because she will put her back towards me to warm up.  Brings us even closer. I wont be able to even sleep without her.... OMG, going to be so deeply tough when she passes away.  But, I am going to cherish her and love her for the time she is on earth with me, and make every moment count.