My Sweet Molly Crossed the Bridge Today

It is with a very sad heart that my sweet, happy Molly girl had to cross the bridge today.  Although I've had dogs in the past, they weren't mine because they favored someone else in the family even though they knew I was mom.

Molly was and will always be my heart dog.  She was my girl through and through.  The best definition I've ever heard for heart dog is that your heart dog is that once in a lifetime – soul mate dog. One you click with. There’s an understanding, a bond stronger than most, and a special level of communication. Your heart dog “gets” you and you get him or her right back.  She was my shadow.  Where momma went, Molly followed.

How can you summarize your heart dog / best friends life?  Is it possible?  Molly was my pedigree challenged girl.  The shelter said she was a cockapoo, which meant 20-30 pounds.  Well, unless she came from a standard poodle, they were way off in their guess.  She was tall (all legs) and up to 80 pounds.  Depending on if she was shaggy (in the winter) or clipped (in the summer), everyone had a different guess on what she was.  Bearded collie? Some kind of terrier?  Afghan mix? Poodle mix? Other?

As a puppy, Molly just seemed to know what to do and when.  She never made a mess in the house, never cried or whimpered, and never bothered me in the morning if she woke up early.  She would lay quietly until I spoke to her and then would rush to the bed, sliding those big paws of hers under by back to say 'happy morning mom!  what are we doing today?'.  So polite! 

And she figured out mirrors almost instantly.  She saw our reflection in a mirror and ran to say hi!, but when she didn't actually find anyone, she came back, looked at the reflection one more time and you could see her comprehend 'oh!  that's us!'.  She never gave any reflections in mirrors or windows a second thought after that.

My memories of Molly will always be that she was happy all the time and never met a person or another dog she didn't like.  She loved her doggy play dates with Justice the sheltie, Claude the St. Bernard, Chaos the akita, and the rotties Biggie D & Heavy Small.  And with the teacup yorkies or other small dogs, if I said 'baby' she just knew to be gentle.  She only met one cat, George and didn't quite know what to make of him.

 

Molly and Justice

 

For her entire life, Molly was so observant and saw everything new.  New for sale signs in the neighborhood, new playground equipment (which she loved to climb on & go down the slide!), etc.  She saw a squirrel only once (since we live on old farm land).  For anything new, she would stop & look at me like 'what is that?!?'.  'Go see' was her queue that it was OK, and she could go check it out.

And then Zorro came along because her boyfriend Justice was moving to Russia.  Zorro, to Molly was just 'there'.  They kept each other company.  Molly was a great watcher or should I say snitch if Zorro did something bad.  She would sit in the corner because she knew he would get yelled at and if Zorro went on one of his nut runs in the house, Molly knew that was outside play and would run the to the back door with the look in her eyes of "hurry mom!  we're going outside to be silly!"

Molly & little (?) brother Zorro

Molly was so smart!  She learned words easily and quickly. Her nick names of Baby Girl, Happy girl, silly girl, Molly O-Molly.  Molly's tail even had it's own name - Thumper. On the floor 'thump, thump, thump'.  On the wall 'thump, thump, thump'.  And if asked 'where's thumper?' - 'thump, thump, thump'.

She even knew commands that were unique to her.  "Molly itchy nose" would make her rub her nose on the rug, grass or whatever was handy.  "Molly pretty" would cause her to rub the top of her head with her paw.  She would know "momma help" for getting in the car, and more recently, helping her down steps and outside.  But she knew she was safe with me and never questioned what I asked.  Of course all the usual commands, sit, stay, down, rest, paw, other paw, etc.

She knew all of her different toy's names spider, octopus, piggy, thingy, ladybug, lamb chop, puppy, kitty, Santa, pumpkin, froggy, tiger and many more over the years. All of which had to go to toy heaven when Molly wasn't around to see or she would cry.  And tennis balls!  She was more than happy to keep playing catch all night from the time I got home from work until bed time.

Molly with thingy

 

Molly was never a real fan of car rides.  All that stop & go made her a little jittery, but highway driving she loved.  Trips to Colorado, getting to stop and smell new smells at every gas stop or rest area. 

Molly & Zorro at Garden of the Gods, Colorado - June 2004

Molly & Zorro at the cliff dwellings, Colorado - June 2004

 

Her last trip was to Iowa even though her pain was starting, she still was happy to go with - as long as she was with momma.

Molly & Zorro in Iowa - Sept 2013 - but she kept looking away when I wanted to take a picture.  Silly girl.

 

Rest easy my happy sweet Molly girl.  You are healthy again over the bridge.  Momma will see you again someday.