Ellie's final swim in
North Creek, October 2015
On August 1, 2001, Jerry Garcia's birthday, a sleek "Shady"
lady gave birth to thirteen multicolored puppies. The brown one with the pure ice
cream-white patch on her chest and white toes was Ellie. There was another silky
brown baby, solid brown though. The rest of the litter was a combination of yellow,
onyx and gold sprinkled with white. These pups were born in North River along the Hudson. We scooped up Ellie at a tiny 7 weeks old and
paddled across Thirteenth Lake in a canoe. Big Jed rode in between the thwarts with baby Ellie
snuggled in a towel. We stopped at Elizabeth Point and watched Ellie take her first steps with her new family as Big Jed
took dip after dip in the lake.
As Ellie grew so did her fur and love for the outdoors. She began swimming in any body of water as well
as rafting. Puddles, ponds, lakes, creeks, and rivers that weren't frozen were all
fair game for Ellie. It's hard to know what Ellie loved more - swimming in any
water or running while we cross country skied. I bet Ellie and I skied somewhere
between five hundred and a thousand times together. On rare days her feathered
brown arms would attract snow balls the size of grapefruits. Her dad, Nate,
groomed her fur often which was a challenge given it's length and her daily
swims. Ellie loved raw carrots and broccoli. She loved berries of all varieties
and would pluck them from bushes with her fox-like face.
I do know Ellie loved
being in her yard best. She'd lay outside all day when possible. She never wore
a collar and spent the last decade of her life like a free range chicken outside our
farmhouse. She loved listening to the birds and watching the "black cats
of North Creek" sneak by as she lay with one eye open ruling her yard. Ellie
had the mane of a lion, a face like a fox, feathers of a bird, the grace of a
butterfly and was as innocent as a porcupine. Her webbed feet were like
fireworks exploding with fur.
The strangest thing happened
as she lay on her death Paco Pad. Rondeau, our tuxedoed hermit cat, walked right
over top of her a few times and sat nearby often. As I slumbered with her on
the floor our last night together, I dreamt of a fox being followed by a cat. A
deceased porcupine lay in my path after I said goodbye to Ellie after 14
and a half years together. Despite the hard blow this was, Ellie wants me to trust
my heart to love animals as much as I love Ellie. As much as Ellie taught me
how to live and love, she helped me embrace the dying process. I made the
experience beautiful by being fully present for her with dim light, soft music,
fresh water every trial with towels all around to lean on and elevate her head.
Through it all I always knew what she wanted and needed. Ellie always wanted to
be touched and cuddled. I repositioned her when necessary and soothed her with Bach's
Rescue Remedy and Young Living's Stress Away. On March 15, 2016, Phil Lesh's birthday, Ellie "flew
away".
Nate and I will think of Ellie
often especially when spring rafters soon arrive. Many will ask about her. Ellie
was our mascot and greeter. Her dream day was being mauled by rafters on a bus
ride to the put-in followed by a raft ride down the Hudson. Ellie's entertained more rafters than most guides. When
I think of the past, it is with gratitude for the joyous times Ellie and I had
together. When I think of the future, it is with faith that life will bring
such joy my way again. Esther now wears the brown crown.
Please read Dr. Pitcairn's
Complete Guide to Natural Health for Cats and Dogs for help caring for your
furry friends.
|
