Our best friend and travel buddy, Paco, has fallen gravely ill with Kidney failure. We crossed each others' paths by chance, in 2016, wandering along a road in Nicaragua. Now we find ourselves wandering a different kind of road, one with a certain end.
Some people say all dogs go to heaven. But I believe, dogs bring heaven to us. Their licks on our cheeks, their paws in our laps, and their snuggles in our arms are gifts from a greater source. The love and affection from a dog can sometimes conspire against our plans. When our 4 legged friend stole food from the kitchen table or trounced mud in our house from the rain soaked grass, he meant the best. He wasn't soiled to be dirty, he was connecting with nature to be happy. He didn't steal our dinner to make us mad, he was trying to save us the added expense of dog kibble. Paco proved that mud cleans up, frustration dissipates and those guilty eyes of his, accompanied by his high frequency tail wagging, were far more adorable than any silly misdeed. In the end, he was guilty, guilty of theft; for he stole our hearts. Whether we have 2 more weeks or 2 more months together with Paco is a matter which is in God's hands. Right now I'm trying to teach my daughters the power of the present which is the greatest gift of all. Endless tomorrows are nearly as hurtful to our souls as dwelling on all of our would'ves, could'ves and should'ves of our pasts. To love now, in this moment, with no regrets and no worries, is our choice. Pure, raw, unfiltered love to the end will be Paco's final teaching.
