"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
-- John Ruskin
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"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." -- John Ruskin
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August 29, 2008 | |||||||
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 Dogs and the People Who Need Them by George Watson Posted July 25, 2002 People need people, but dogs need people more. There's nothing quite like a dog to illustrate the value of relationships and the importance of taking responsibility for the things that matter. NEW Reader Responses are a goodthing! Join the conversation! Dear GoodLetter readers, The silence on the other end of the phone said it all. Finally, my father's voice, a sound of reason for my then 19 years of life, began to speak. "George, I don't think this is a very good idea." He continued. I should not have adopted the Golden retriever puppy who was, at the time, snuggled up asleep across my feet. Nineteen-year-old college sophomores who have just joined a fraternity and teetered on expulsion from lack of studies don't need another distraction. It's not wise, and it's not fair to the dog. His logic, as always, was impeccable. But this time, something was different. He ended up being wrong. Something changed in me when Jumpin' Jack Jasper bounded into my life. I won't lie and say I suddenly woke up with a sense of responsibility suddenly enveloping my every breath. Nothing comes that easily. I had grown up in two middle-class homes where I was showered with love but, because of my parents' divorce, had almost no responsibilities. No one expected me to do much more than take of myself. I was not needed by anyone. Jasper whimpered through that first night. For the first few hours, I wondered whether I had erred. Was my father right? Sometime before the sun rose, I realized something. This little ball of fur needs me. I told myself, "Watson, you gotta get it together." Feeding, exercise, training. These were my chores, and those were his needs I had to fulfill. There was more. My days of last-second trips were over. I had to make sure Jasper was welcome, too. And while he didn't say much, he took part in every conversation about our future life together. How close was the nearest park to any potential apartments? Did the neighbors mind dogs? Did they have any unfriendly animals of their own? As Jasper aged, my concern became wondering if a potential home had too many stairs for him to climb. Was there an elevator? I must say, it really is something to be needed. And as Jasper taught me his lessons of life, I learned volumes about myself. I liked to help others. I gained a special satisfaction from helping those who couldn't help themselves. I didn't become a reporter because of Jasper, but he's one reason why I have stuck with it for a dozen years and will likely continue for decades to come. Jasper passed away a year ago, succumbing to a rapidly spreading cancer that turned my powerful and noble friend, for years the one consistent part of my life, into a frail, trembling shell of his former self. When the time came for a vet to help him reach his personal ending, he looked up at me one last time from the floor where I crouched beside him. His beautiful brown eyes perked up for me and then closed forever. I had never cried -- make that blubbered -- for anyone like I did for Jasper. I thought to myself, "I wish I had done more. I should have given him more brushings or the massages that he liked so much in his older years." It was a final lesson. While it sounds clichéd, I decided to drink in all that life offered, especially in friendship and personal relationships. The reality of his final lesson revisited me just this past weekend. My boss, a true pillar of journalism named Lawrence Young, died at the age of 47 on Saturday of an apparent heart attack. He was my biggest advocate and as I have learned in recent days, a mentor for legions of other journalists around the country. It's how I can stomach Lawrence's death. He was always teaching, always pushing me for more. I gobbled up his lessons, which he offered up over afternoon sessions in his office. Certainly, I wanted more from him, and of course, I never expected him to die so soon. My tears told me that. But however brief the time, Lawrence was there to touch my soul and fill my mind. I can only be glad I was so fortunate to have listened and learned as often as I did. :: George Watson George is a reporter for The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California. He lives in southern California with his wife, his 21-month-old son, and two Golden retrievers. (Thoughts on George's GoodLetter? Inspired by what you've read? E-mail us -- don't forget to tell us your name, where you're from, and if we can use your words in a future GoodLetter or on our Web site.) |
TALK ABOUT IT When have you realized you were needed? What has inspired you to "drink in all that life offers"? Share your stories and ideas. LEARN ABOUT IT :: Read the moving and inspired obituary George Watson wrote for his mentor, journalist Lawrence Young. George recently traveled to Afghanistan on assignment. Read samples from his powerful series on the rebuilding process: :: A Mission to Heal (repairing Afghanistan's health-care system) :: Educated Professionals Called Essential (restoring Afghanistan's leadership) :: Area Physician Faces Daunting Task in Kabul DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT Adopt a dog who needs you -- or that you need -- from your local animal shelter or support an animal welfare organization in your community. Here are a couple of our favorite places to start: :: Humane Society International :: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Readers Respond Dear GoodThings,
I love my dog. As Barley (a large Sheltie) goes from puppy hood to adulthood, I am not doing as much with him as I would like. This letter inspired me. The whole idea of being needed is something that many in modern times don't feel. It is something I feel on a very personal level. We are needed by the people and animals in our immediate surroundings and in the greater world. It is just knowing what those links are to make them real that is the crux. This letter reminded me of that. Dear GoodThings,
I couldn’t believe my eyes about the timely subject of this GoodLetter (George and his dog Jasper), as I have just lost my beloved Dalmatian, Chelsie. I was struck by the thoughts that George had because I thought that I was the only one who thought that way. I, too, think that I should have done more. My friends are making me see that I loved and cared for her far beyond what was expected. With words from friends and experiences from others, I hope to make it through this. Right now, I’m hopeful that I too can learn some lessons from this. For now, however, I am walking around in disbelief in my very silent house. Nothing is familiar to me. I hope that I can work through this daze and come out wiser. It was touching for me to hear George’s reference that he crouched down beside the dog he loved. I realized then that all who have to endure the end to their pets' lives will end up doing that. I will never forget kneeling on the floor and cradling my companion. The harder things come later, including having to leave the pet hospital without her. Some people will never understand, but I am grateful for the people I have run across that share with me their stories so that I don’t feel so alone. Thank you, George. Dear GoodThings,
My story is not nearly as inspiring, but I do believe that an animal loves you unconditionally, the love we all really crave that is sometimes impossible to get.
That is why I believe in saving animals from local shelters. They seem grateful to be given a loving home. My current dog is a silly black lab mongrel, my constant and loving companion, and the only person in the household that never talks back or gives me a hard time. I absolutely cherish him. Dear GoodThings, I loved George Watson's letter about what Jasper taught him. I cried when I go to the part of Jasper's death. I've lost 2 dogs; I have been given my Brittany Spaniel, Hercules, to have and love, as my son is off to college.
I think of the unconditional love we get from dogs and their patience thru our foibles. St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, knew this all along.
Want to share your thoughts or ideas with other people who care about good things? Send 'em our way. |
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