Chapter 7 – Watchful Eye on Winter
Before Pearl and Wally could blink twice, winter was settling in over their mountain home. Suddenly everything was different; everything was cold and white. Pearl had been fitted for a winter wardrobe that included coats, sweaters and boots. Wally wanted to make sure she was warm and comfortable. She did not seem to mind at all; she soaked up all of the pampering like a sponge.
After brief adventures outside she would retreat back into the house by the fireplace to enjoy its glow and warmth. Pearl’s favorite place in the wintertime was the bed in front of the fireplace. It did not take any prompting on Wally’s part to get her into her bed there where it was toasty warm. She would snuggle in and he would cover her with a nice thick blanket. There she would draw warmth from the fire, go to sleep and dream their little doggy dreams.
It never ceased to amaze Wally how Pearl always woke up at the same time he did. He would wake up while sitting in his favorite chair and watch her crawl out of her bed and stretch and flap her ears. Then she would look at him with that “feed me” look. It took no prompting on his part to get her to follow him to the kitchen. What would it be this time? Would it be cheese or another healthy snack? He had learned to be careful with her as she would eat anything and everything and gain weight quickly. The vet had commended him for keeping her slimmed down and he wanted to keep it that way. Small, healthy snacks after naptime were the order of the day.
Because winter brought in icy roads in the mountains, they were not able to go on car rides very often. Road trips were limited to necessary outings and that meant more often than not Pearl could not go. Wally made it up to her by taking her on sleigh rides around the estate with the groundskeeper driving. He knew his way around the grounds, how to handle the horses and how to make the sleigh handle like a charm around the ice and snow. He would hold her tightly in his lap in the back seat. The groundskeeper would gently guide the horses around the estate while they relaxed and enjoyed the ride.
Pearl was now 6 years old. It was time again for her annual checkup at the vet. She was up-to-date on all of her shots. Her weight was in the normal range. There were no health issues the vet could see; he was pleased she was doing so well and he declared her healthy.
Pearl was thriving in her new home with Wally. The scars from her early life of abuse remained, but they were buried quite deeply now, only surfacing occasionally for him to see. Loving, gentle touches and reassuring words always brought Pearl back to the present. What a happy, well-adjusted dog she had become!
Chapter 8 – The Brick Road
In honor of his precious Pearl, Wally had a brick road installed in a portion of the yard. Because he had the money to do it and because of his deep, abiding love for her, he had real pearls placed strategically among the bricks. She could follow the twists and turns of the red brick road as much as she wanted. The area was well-landscaped. It was safe and secure. Unlike most Dachshunds, she was not a digger, so the surrounding plants and bushes were kept intact. The Dachshund breed traits would kick in and her little nose would twitch away as she meandered around taking in all the smells. The groundskeeper would always keep a watchful eye on her, even though it really was not necessary. Countless circles around the brick road resulted in no mishaps whatsoever.
It was getting harder and harder for Wally to go up and down the staircase to the upper level where the master bedroom was, so he had a chairlift installed to take to the upper level. The chairlift made little noise and was not frightening in the least. Pearl enjoyed the rides up and down on Dad’s lap. And she knew when the chairlift was going up it was taking them upstairs to bed for the night. He knew some day would come when he would have to convert one of the downstairs rooms to a bedroom for them. But he was quite independent and determined to bump that out as far into the future as possible.
It was a dog’s life for Pearl in every way. It was the kind of life she was born for; the luxury items were just icing on the cake. Her heart was so full of love and gratitude for this man who had done all of this for her. She was blessed. Oh yes – and spoiled. Life was good for him, too. Big paybacks came with his relationship with her and his tender, loving care for her. She was his and he was hers for life.
Pearl still chased real and imaginary balls and played inside and out until the next nap or meal time. The pain of her past subsided as the pleasure in her new life took over. Wally could not have been more proud. They were a perfect family – him and his Precious Pearl. He had an occasional setback with his health, and during those times he needed a reprieve from caring for her. They would go outside on the grounds where the groundskeeper would watch out for her.
Chapter 9 – Sleigh Rides and Car Rides
The cycles of the seasons came and went. Spring became summer, summer became autumn and autumn became winter; then winter became spring and the cycle started again. Pearl’s senses were strong. Her keen eyesight, hearing and sense of smell gave her the capacity to know when the seasons were changing. It was exhilarating for her to sense the changes of the seasons and to enjoy each one to the fullest.
Pearl was now on the declining years in life. But her mug did not turn frosty white as it did with the other Dachshunds, for she was already white. She also was not showing signs of slowing down much, except for taking a few more naps. It was like she was making up for that lost puppy time in her early life. She loved Wally and the groundskeeper. She loved the large home and the grounds where she had now spent the better part of her life. She loved the sleigh rides in the winter and the car rides in the spring, summer and autumn. But her favorite place of all was still Wally’s lap. There is no place like Dad’s lap when you are a Dachshund, no matter how old you are. It was the same for Dad; there is nothing like having a Dachshund in your lap no matter how old you are.
The only damper in Pearl’s life was her inability to shake the bathroom issue. As a puppy she was beaten repeatedly for going to the bathroom. It was totally engrained into her and she was never able to overcome; she did her best, but sometimes her best was not enough. She would hold it until the dam was ready to burst; as a result, sometimes she did not make it to the doggy door. The deep bond she had with Wally helped make up for it as he learned to watch for the signs of the bursting dam and would take her out. If there was an accident, he calmly cleaned it up and never said a word. Scolding her was out of the question.
Pearl was such a dear dog with a sweet spirit. As if that was not enough, she also had an insatiable desire to please. She would do anything for Wally that was within her doggy ability to do. Like all dogs her love was unconditional. But in all fairness to Dad, he had never given a reason for her to not love him from the day she came to live with him. He keenly felt the heartbeat of dog rescuing: getting those precious pups into loving, nurturing homes to make a difference in their lives. Pearl rewarded him by being a faithful and loving companion. They needed each other.
Chapter 10 – The Mature Years
Pearl gently matured into her senior years. Wally’s hair had turned gray. Yes, the two of them were aging and slowing down. They had the rhythm down together. It did not bother the dog at all, but it began to weigh heavily on Dad’s heart as he began to think about the day when one or both of them would be gone. She sensed his uneasiness during those moments, so he would willfully shake them off to focus on and enjoy their present moments together. It was still good and he would not trade these precious memories for the world.
Wally’s move into his senior years was accompanied with his own health issues. But Pearl was always on his radar. The bond between them was getting even deeper because of their aging and mutual need for each other. Plus he always had the groundskeeper to rely on for watching the dogs as needed; it was a part of his job and he did not mind at all as he also loved the dogs. Furthermore, he wanted Dad to relax knowing the dogs had the care and attention they needed.
Pearl had constant pain from arthritis. The arthritis was the direct result of the abuse she
suffered as a puppy. She suffered a great deal and Dad’s heart ached watching all this. Medications prescribed by the vet provided some measure of relief. She was sleeping more and more partially because it was a natural part of their aging process and partially because she willed it to be that way for it gave her much-needed relief and respite from the pain.
Wally began the heartbreaking process of preparing for the inevitable. First, he would prepare for Pearl’s memorial. Once that was complete, then and only then could he focus on himself. He had a custom archway built in one corner of the estate where his wife was buried. It would be near the road for others to see. Like the brick road, it was carefully inlaid with pearls and gold. He affectionately called it “The Pearly Gate” after his precious Pearl. He made arrangements for her to be buried in the middle of the arch. Now he was free to make arrangements with his lawyer and the funeral home to be buried on the opposite side of his wife. He had no living heirs, so his funds would be divided fifty percent each to his church and the Dachshund Rescue Team.
Nobody would ever know for sure if it was the natural course of things, the deep bond between the two of them or a combination of both; but Pearl and Wally declined together. He now had hired help for housekeeping, meals and dog care. Neither one was getting around much anymore. But those who knew them best would argue it was the deep bond between them that forged the declining path together. Their love for each other was that deep.
Wally and Pearl not only had their own pain, but the added pain of watching the other hurt. Pearl was the first to go; the arthritis pain had taken its toll. She was lovingly laid to rest under the arch of “The Pearly Gate” on the far corner of the estate near the road. That way all who drove by could see the splendor of the memorial. He would soon follow his wife and Pearl through “The Pearly Gate,” as previously arranged. There they would be together forever.
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Other books published by Stella Dillenbeck:
Uncle Trucky’s Sidekick, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512336
Sir Walter Raleigh, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/516656
Gold Rush, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/521481
Finding Gold, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/525024
Modoc Point Pups, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528948
A Salute to Sparky, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/533307
Deserted in the Desert, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/536725
Sherman, the German, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/540406
From Tears to Triumph, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/544477
The Dream Team, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/548450
The Chuckwagon Gang, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/552534
In the Eye of the Storm, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/556846
Out of this World, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/601482
Reaching the Last Frontier, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/621408
Once Upon a Shining Star, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/624177
The Tough Lumberjack Dog, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/657572
From Splinters to Splendor, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/662338
Through the Pearly Gate Page 2
