for the love of dogs

Dachshund Goddesses. Say What?

Posted by Barbara Techel

Ok, so perhaps you are wondering why I’ve called these paintings, which I did a few years ago, dachshund goddesses? Clearly, they are tree goddesses.  

But it started shortly after when my mom saw the paintings I’d done that she asked if they each had a name. Huh. I’d not thought of that. And so I let it simmer. And simmer it did for all this time.

The paintings are in our lower level where I see them every day when I work out on my pilates machine. And just like that, one day it hit me what their names are!

So perhaps no surprise for those that have been here following my writing and blog for some time, and you’ve likely already guessed…but yes, each is named after my special needs dachshunds that graced my life — Frankie, Joie, and Gidget.

And this is when I sat with each of the paintings, especially drawn to the center of each of them. Who was who, I wondered?

It then occurred to me looking at the center of each goddess the color at each center near the heart, each dachshund has helped me heal some aspect of myself. This is when I thought of the Chakras – energy systems within our body – and knew immediately that the goddess with the red center is Gidget.

After looking up the other meanings of the colors representing the Chakra’s I realized that the orange was Joie and the blue, Frankie.

Blue represents the throat chakra and its emotional attributes are about communication, creativity, and healing. Frankie, being my first special needs dachshund opened a world to me of writing two children’s books and a memoir about the journey we took together with her in a wheelchair, sharing her message with many. It was never on my radar to write children’s books, and even more so to think I’d become a public speaker. The girl that was so shy all those years pushed herself out into the world sharing a message that she became passionate about.

Orange represents the sacral chakra and its emotional attributes are intimacy, emotions, boundaries, addiction, and trust. When Joie passed away just ten months after I adopted her, I just didn’t understand why she had to leave so soon. But it was a time of me learning to appreciate transitional times in one’s life, to be with the fact that I knew I wanted to slow down and go in a new direction in my life, but uncertain of what that was. It was also a time of trusting the universe would provide a new path and setting boundaries for myself to learn to just be and allow what was to unfold.

Red represents the root chakra and its emotional attributes are security, grounding, sexuality, and survival. As I shared in my latest memoir Gidget guided me to finally look at a vision of a childhood wound I’d carried with me for most of my life of being touched inappropriately as a child. This led me down the path of healing so many aspects of myself from learning to trust my intuition, that I was safe, and that I was worthy.

Realizing each goddess was one of my dachshund friends, my mom suggested writing their name somewhere on each painting. Today is the day I did just that and oh, how it has made my heart smile.

Our animal friends are always with us. What a blessing and treasured gift.

xo,

Barbara

A Man and His Dog

Posted by Barbara Techel

Each and every time I see this scene play out in front of my house it causes a swirl of loving emotions in my heart. Often times, I will stand at the kitchen window or front door and take the time to watch this man and his dog walk by – it’s such a sweet moment that brings me so much joy.

For many years, having two dogs of my own, I didn’t interact with this man and his dog if I was outside. It was hard to do so because both my dogs were often barking at the ‘intruder’ walking by.

About three months ago I was putting something away in my car when I saw them coming down the street. I waited. I wanted to catch a closer glimpse of this tiny dog who is often decked out in either a purple polar fleece coat or this red jacket she is wearing in the photo.

I also wanted to know her name. I enjoy finding out the names of dogs and so often they seem to fit just perfectly. Not having a dog of my own right now, it makes me happy when I can interact with another dog if even for only a few short moments.

The man shuffled toward me and was chuffing on a cigarette as he often is. I suspect that when he walks the dog it’s also his smoking break and perhaps he’s not allowed to smoke in the house.

I said, “Your dog is so cute. What’s her name?”

The man’s face lit up as he excitedly said, “Her name is Ruby!”

“What kind of dog is she?”

“She’s a min-pin. She’s our second one. We rescued her.”

“She’s adorable. I love seeing you walk by with her.”

“She’s a good girl,” he said.

“I can see that.” Crouching down to the dog’s level I said, “It’s nice to meet you, Ruby.”

She wasn’t so sure what to think of me and hid behind the man’s legs. So I let her have her space.

The man bent over and picked her up. I could then see her face which was as tiny as could be with her dainty ears that bent forward and her soft black eyes. This endeared her to me even more.

“What a sweetheart,” I said.

And off he shuffled, inhaling another puff of his cigarette as Ruby’s spindly legs paced beside him.

I smiled watching them walk away. Her name fit her just right, I thought. Ruby with her red coat quite magical is she as she just does her thing being a dog and this always impacts my heart with so much love.

XO,

Barbara

We Had Joy, We Had Fun. Thinking of Gidget and the Joy of Squirrels.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Right after I had to make the heart-wrenching decision last month to let Gidget go due to congestive heart failure I heard these words from the song, Seasons in the Sun, pop into my head: We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. I know it was Gidget letting me know it was time and it was okay.

Other lyrics to that song from Terry Jacks are:

Goodbye my friend it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I’ll be there

In the weeks since Gidget has been gone the lines, now that spring is in the air and think of me and I’ll be there often run through my mind.

The truth is I wanted one more summer with her. But I know if I’d had one more, I’d want another and another. 

I’ve found such comfort in this song as the earth is so alive right now with birds, squirrels, chipmunks, fawns, and deer that I often see in our yard. Seeing and observing wildlife has me often thinking of Gidget. I feel grateful to have this connection with animals during a time I’m missing my sweet girl.

I had to chuckle seeing Squirrel dining yesterday late afternoon with his pretend friend—a rustic squirrel I bought at an art gallery last summer. I called Gidget a little squirrel at times when she was, well, you know, acting squirrely!

And again, while I’d have loved one more summer with her, I’m feeling grateful for the companionship of all the animals in the wild. I feel like Gidget wanted it this way and that she knew this is what my heart would need. It would be so like her to think of my best interest.

So while Squirrel snacked on peanuts I sat quietly and watched feeling grateful for the joy they bring and the sweet memories of Gidget that saunter through my mind.

XO,

Barbara

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