Lola’s Taking It The Hardest

Of all the family, Colleen’s dog Lola is taking dads departure the hardest. Poor Colleen and Lola have been having a rough go of it. First there was the divorce and departure of Gordon from their lives and then Colleen’s other dog Candy had to be put down due to health issues, then Dad departed.

All of us humans know that Dad’s passing was a blessing and that he is in a better place. Unfortunately Lola does not, Dad spoiled both Candy and Lola as much as he could. Dad was very much a animal person, but truly loved dogs. Fortunately his daughters both both inherited that trait. I did not. It is not that I dislike animals, I just never really developed a love or attachment to them and fortunately Jennifer did not either. We never had any pets and never really wanted one. Also our professional lives were not ones that would making having pets easy. We did have a Siamese fighting fish for a couple of years, but that was the extent of our pets.

Anyway, you can tell Lola is grieving. She mopes around and is not eating normally and you can just see it in her eyes and face and mannerisms.

Now Lola is in my and Mom’s care for a few days. Colleen is off on a cross country trip to Florida with her friend Greg. Greg is moving to Venice, Florida. They are driving in his truck towing a smaller U-haul trailer. It will take them several days to make the trek and then Colleen will fly back to Montana when they finish the trip. I am so glad Greg asked Colleen to make the trip with him. It will be good for her to get away from here for a bit. I hope they have fun.

Anyway we made it through the first night with no problems. I am not lying when I say I was pretty concerned about how Lola might react with Colleen not being here. I know we are not out of the woods just yet, but so far so good. We are getting some much needed rain at the moment, but if it clears up some later today, I will take her out for a run with the four wheeler. She likes to run through the fields chasing gophers.

Anyway it is interesting how animals can grieve just like us humans. I just hope Lola does not depart us from her grief as I think that would kill Colleen as well. I know Colleen would like to get another Dog so Lola would have a companion, but that is just not practical at this time. Mom certainly does not need another dog in her life at this time. I guess we will see how this plays out. That is something Mom and Colleen need to work out and I will do my best to keep my nose out of it.

Anyway please say a prayer for Lola and please pray that we get some good rains. We desperately need them or we will be suffering the same fate that Utah is having with forest fires.

I do hope the rains cease enough tomorrow for Case to be able to attend a football camp that Colt Anderson puts on here in Butte. Colt is a Butte kid that walked on to the University of Montana football team and ended up playing with several teams in the NFL and is now a special teams coach in the NFL. He brings in several current and former NFL players to put on the camp. Both Heath and Case have enjoyed attending his camp. Heath is too old to attend and is more focused on his soccer anyway, plus he works now. He has a job with the East Helena School district janitorial group and is busy deep cleaning East Helena schools over the summer.