Through Pretzel's Eyes

Every dog knows that the most important moment in life is the present one. Pretzel knew this as he greeted the day on January 22, 2020. The Dachshunds were barking and clamoring, as they did every morning. Being a big dog, he lay on the bed just to the right of her, as he had for twelve and a half years. It had been a long crawl up the stairs to his bed for his big old body last night, but even though he was told he could stay on the bed downstairs, he came...because that’s what he always did.

She seemed rushed this morning, but she was patient and kind as she coaxed him down the two flights of stairs to go out into the crisp winter air for his walk. He sniffed the precious air and coughed. Breathing had become so difficult these past few weeks. After the morning feeding frenzy, she told the littles to behave and packed up the youngest into the little seat in her car. He could hardly believe his luck when he was also loaded into the comfy hammock in the back seat. His luck would continue, as he scored a whole pile of scrambled eggs at the drive through.

He thought about all the yums he had gotten over the years while traveling and recalled one particular time when they got stuck in a deluge of rain somewhere in Arkansas on the way back from New Mexico. They waited it out in the parking lot with an entire smorgasbord of take away. Ah, good times.

“Road trips are good, good,” he thought to himself as he listened to the blinker’s click, click, click. Little Quigley peeked around the seat at him, and he could only sigh. “You’re just getting started, little buddy. Lucky you. So many road trips ahead.” Soon the hum of the tires had lulled the puppy to sleep in his bed, but Pretzel didn’t want to miss a thing. He watched as the cityscape turned to countryside. Every once in awhile, she glanced over her shoulder and asked if he was okay. Yes, he was pretty worn out, but how could he not be okay? He was with her, and they were driving. He loved the car! I mean, what self-respecting dog doesn’t? Okay, Grandpa Charlie had some issues, but he had been dropped and abandoned more than once.

But Pretzel had only good memories of the car. The car came to take him home when he was a wee baby. Then the car took him to the lake one day. Boy! The first time he stepped off of the edge and his little legs started to paddle was amazing!! Once the car took him across the country to a strange and dry, but beautiful land. But it was always good because she was there. He also enjoyed going to see his friends at the “resort spa". A good vacation at the kennel always made him pooped, but man, good times! He even liked to go visit his friends at the vet. Toenail clippings not withstanding, he really loved those people.

Speaking of favorite people, some of his most favorite friends had been coming to the house lately. He didn’t really know why, or why they were telling him, “Goodbye,” but it was sure nice of them.

Anyhow, back to the present moment because it IS the most important one, after all. He heard the signal blinking again, which meant that they were somewhere. He had no idea where, but here they were. A really nice lady tried to give him some water, and he took a little, but he wasn’t feeling very well. He didn’t even want to get out to go potty, even though he had been in the car for almost five hours, and this seemed to worry her. But he knew that something magical was happening. Peeking out the window, he could see that she was holding something very, very tiny and brown. “Oh boy, another weenie,” he thought. He did love the littles so very much. He heard her say to the lady that she would call her Vivienne. It means “life”.

But something seemed very wrong on the way home. His person should be happy right now. Instead she was very sad. He laid his head down and watched her as she drove. Finally, just after the sun sank down and the dark had settled in, they pulled into a familiar place – the vet’s office. He jumped up with a new energy that surprised her. “I love these people!” But that adrenaline rush soon quelled, and the heartbreaking realization that this would be his last adventure quickly set in. It was time to say goodbye. But he was thankful for one last good road trip.

Thank you for sharing your journey with me, and for all of the adventures that we shared, Pretzel. 5 May 2007 – 22 January 2020.