Taken For Granted

When I was a little girl, my family and I got a puppy, a golden retriever to be exact, and we named him Murphy. I think he was the most sweetest,  most frightened dog I’ve ever met. Whenever we’d come through the door he’d come right up to us and wag his tail super fast, I remember he got a brown horse stuffed animal toy and he’d bring it everywhere and wag his tail. I grew up with Murphy. Murphy and I were about the same age. I remember he hated going on walks, whenever we’d try and bring him on one he’d immediately slam his butt on the ground and refuse to walk, unless it was back to the front door. He loved the snow, he’d have the biggest smile on his face and he’d shove his face into it, also you could never count on Murphy to protect you, from any danger, because he’d be scared too and run away and hide.

He was just a silly dog who liked to lay inside, get attention and lay in the sun and follow my mom around. He loved my mom out of all of us, not really sure why but that’s just what silly dogs do. He was a really great dog, besides when he’d get into the trash while we were gone and we’d get home and he’d look so guilty or when he’d run away into our neighbors yard, and also eat their trash. Which wasn’t often. But he did it enough times. When he wasn’t doing that he’d lay on the couch, which I feel like is a controversial thing, but we let him do it and he’d take all the room there was. He’d also love playing ball, he could’ve done that all day if he wanted to but he was more happy lying inside on the cool floor.

He was such a joyful dog.I don’t think I ever pictured him not being there, in our house. He was such an ever present thing. It just always felt like he would always be there when we opened the front door and went inside,  until there wasn’t another time. It has been 4+ years since he passed away, and I don’t see myself getting another Golden Retriever  I keep thinking of what my mom said to me about him “how he had a good life” and how we treated him very good. in the future, just because I feel like I’d feel bad, like I’m replacing him or something. He was such a big part of our family that it just felt like he’d be there forever,

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”

by A.A Milne

like he’d forever be there the days I got back from school, or when we went camping, or went out. But there was never another time. I feel like I’m starting to forget specific things about him, like how his fur felt, the way his bark sounded, the things he liked, or the way he’d play. Everything I knew about him is starting to fade in my memory. I think people who think something is always gonna be there takes them for granted. I never pictured my dog not being in my life but that’s not realistic. I learned to appreciate every animal, any person I have in my life because you never know how long you have them, even if it feels like you’ll have them forever.

“A cute Dog 4” by Chen Vision is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Additional Photo by author