“That didn’t take you long,” said someone to my wife when she told them we have just become parents again. She’s right: two months ago we lost our beloved Rufus to anaemia, and it knocked both Charlotte and I sideways. The hole that opened up in our lives was more like a chasm, and we had to do something about it. I kept coming back to something Anneli wrote on my Blog about losing Rufus: she wrote something I’ll never forget:
“…I find I love her just as much, and I don’t love Lily any less.”
Something told us that Rufus would not want us to pine, and to carry on living life. And so we find ourselves with a new family member, a 3 month old Golden Cocker Spaniel, who so far has no name. He is a bundle of energy, mad as a hatter, quick as anything to learn, and generous to a point with his love. He brings tears of joy to our eyes, and reminds us so much of Rufus whilst at the same time being completely different.
I’m wondering whether he is part of coming to terms with Rufus’ loss. I think we are on the Acceptance phase of the Change Curve as far as he is concerned, whilst of course the puppy’s arrival has set us out on another Curve of its own, in which we are doing a lot of Testing (how long can we leave him without him ripping the house apart etc.?)
Interesting to think that you can be on several Change Curves at the same time, some big, some small. Progress can be fragile, and sometimes you can slip back down the curve in a response to a trigger of some sort.
So, something resembling Life Before We Lost Him is returning. It’s very full on, but worth every minute of disruption to have such a little ray of sunshine around the place. Just as it appears that Spring has finally arrived in the UK, we can feel ourselves opening up again and getting ready for (we can but hope) a heady summer. Maybe we’ll even get to swim in the sea again, you never know.
Suggestions for a name on a postcard, please. Take a look at him in action and see what inspires you.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOQpaLkOggI]
Michael, that is an ADORABLE puppy!!!!!!! I am going to name my future dog Mithrandir …. he would also respond to Gandalf as a nickname…. but you can have Isadora which I had reserved for the cat but turns out I’m allergic to kitties!
Farnoosh, very generous of you to donate your kitten’s name! Mithrandir would never work because I can’t pronounce it! Imagine trying to shout that at full volume when trying to get him to come back to you in the woods: “Mithrandir! Mithrandir! Mithran….oh what the hell, come here you naughy dog!”
Love Gandalf, but too many connotations.
We have ended up calling him Ross!
Cute!
One word comes to mind for me: CUTE!! Definitely not a good name, though.
Yes, Carolann, he’s cute. Getting more confident by the day. So now cute is blending in with naughty!
What a cute little fellow he is! What about Booster? As he’s boosting your energy/life/love again? Enjoy!
Thank you Nic. I like your thinking!
Browno
Obvious……..JARVIS, ……………hence Jarvis Cocker Spaniel.(Check Brit Pop references).
We all knew the new dog was coming, even if you and Mrs Brown did not!
Collings
Nice one Mike! I can definitely see where you’re coming from.
That is one cute puppy!!! The video makes me think he is a bit Wrigley
Good luck with your latest family addition 🙂
Nina
Thanks so much, Nina. The link could be very helpful. We have decided to exclude all names ending “ley” or “lie”, as we think they might sound a bit “wet” when shouting for him to come back when he goes missing in the woods!
I meant to add that this little guy is very cute!
You’re welcome to borrow the name of my dogs, past or present, if you like (Lily and Ruby). Thanks for the nice compliment on my comment from way back then. I’d forgotten I said that, but it’s still true.
Thanks again Anneli. I doubt he will appreciate being given a girl’s name!! Loads of suggestions flooding in. It’s funny how hard we are finding it this time: don’t know if there is a tiny bit of guilt at having got him so soon after Rufus.
Oop! Major faux pas!!! Ha ha. We’ve always had girls so I didn’t even think about it – obviously. Well, I’m sure you’ll think of a name that means something to you. He sure looks sweet. Don’t worry about it being too soon. You’ll get over the guilt as Mr. No Name grows on you.
Cute as pie! This is surely a Henry !
So glad you guys are moving through the stages of grief – I was reminded of this Kubler – Ross model from an earlier blog you made – he looks like a Winstone to me!
Best Wishes
Gill
Thanks Gill. He can’t be a Winston as we had a cockerel called that and we never do repeats!