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Goodbye for now, Lucy Boerner

June 21, 2020 By Talya Tate Boerner 34 Comments

One of the happiest days is the day you adopt a pet. The saddest is when that pet dies. We lost our sweet Lucy early this morning. We kept watch over her most of the night, her faint heartbeat and her still body, until she slipped away.

This morning, there is fog. The backyard is eerily still and gray in the early dawn. The birds continue to chirp, but they sound like someone else’s birds, singing from someone else’s trees, a yard or two over.

This morning, Lucy’s food bowl is untouched. Her blanket on the back porch still holds the imprint of her last nap.

Annabelle knows.

As Annabelle runs the fence perimeter searching for the possum that has taken up residence in our backyard, she knows Lucy isn’t watching from the sidelines. Not that long ago, Lucy chased pesky squirrels and certainly wouldn’t have tolerated a possum in the yard. Lucy was the best gardening buddy.

Pets never live long enough, but Lucy certainly had a wonderful life. Her favorite things included loooooong back scratches, walks with the whole pack, and playing tug-of-war with Annabelle. And, yes, she was pretty famous. Not only is she one of the central protagonists in my latest book, but once upon a time, she was a cover girl featured in the Lakewood Advocate, July 2010. She won a pet contest for that esteemed honor.

Lucy Lakewood Advocate

This morning while my coffee perked, I saw a hummingbird at the feeder. A tiny, hopeful, miraculous reminder of life. Yesterday was the first day of summer. It somehow seems fitting that Lucy’s last day would be summer solstice, the longest day of the year, a day for appreciating good things while they last.

Today is Father’s Day. I imagine Gene was patiently waiting to welcome Lucy (such a smart little kitty cat). I imagine they are together again, and that provides some comfort.

RIP Lucy. Run fast and free sweet girl.đź’“

We will miss you every single day.

Lucy

Sunday Letter from Spring Break

March 24, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner 9 Comments

Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Today’s writing is really a What I Did On My Spring Break letter.

Remember writing that specific “what I did” essay in school? As if going back to school wasn’t bad enough, the teachers made us write about our summer vacations during the first week of school. For me (and for Gracie Lee), that essay served one purpose. It was a depressing reminder that barefoot lake days were over. For the foreseeable future I would be spending a bunch of hours sitting at my school desk looking at the back of Timmy Stone’s head.

Nothing against Timmy Stone. We were good friends. It’s just that we sat in alphabetical order, you know.

As we fast forward from elementary school to last week, I hope you enjoyed your first few official days of spring!Continue Reading

A Pet Tribute

February 20, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 17 Comments

The death of a pet is one of the most heartbreaking things. The pain is raw and real. It will knock you to your knees.

Recently several of my friends experienced the devastating death of their pets. It seemed every few days another beloved pet had died. The Facebook comments and condolences piled up for each because everyone could relate. We’ve all been there. Pets are so easy to love and incredibly painful to lose. They fill an empty space we didn’t know we had.

But this isn’t meant to be a sad post.

love your pet day

This is a tribute to all those pets we love—yesterday, today and forever. And since today is National Love Your Pet Day, I thought I’d post pictures of my friends’ special pets who are missed so much…

Sadie Hackney

 

Heather Stewart

 

Peaches Rutledge

dexter wooten

 

Wembley Camp

Sweet pets…

Feel free to leave a thought or story about your pet(s)—past or present—in the comment section for everyone to enjoy!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Here I wait, for my friend who’s late. I will stay, just to walk beside you for one more day.”
― Jess C. Scott

Musical Pairing:

Love Your Pet Day

Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

Click to BUY NOW!

Talya Tate Boerner books
Gene, Everywhere

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