Day 426

When our pack makes preparations to head home from the cottage, it's "All Paws On Deck"! They act like we have abandoned them multiple times in the past and we are preparing to "Hansel and Gretel" them once again! Poor babies!

Sam and Gus are loaded in the Suburban first and leap in the back to be welcomed by numerous quilts, pillows and dog toys.

Ranger is next. He gets some assistance being lifted into the back seat where he is treated by comfy dog beds. Lilly is last and must be hoisted into her perch in the arms of Mom and Dad!

Being last, Lilly has the most anxiety. She watches all of the shenanigans and must wait her turn. All four of our Goldens simply want to be with us.

Being left behind can take many forms. Loved ones move away, children grow up and surge into independence, aging might curtail activities and precious family members pass. For those who remain, life takes a drastic turn. However, sadness, anxiety and loss eventually fade in their intensity and the resilient human spirit rises again to move forward on a new journey.

I have had my share of being "left behind"... everyone has. It can be a time of growth and self-discovery as inner strength surfaces. It will never be the same, but the new normal, once accepted, can be a journey worth traveling.

Being on the lookout for people who are "left behind" in some way opens the door to walk beside them for a time. It is a gift you offer which is reflected back into your heart as their steps move in the right way.

Lilly would agree. However, she was pretty ecstatic to be included as we headed home from the cottage. In the words of Stitch (Disney), "Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten".