ADPressions

 
Today was a very touching day for me.  My family has been away nursing Grandpa back to health for about three weeks now.  When I get home in the evenings, I let the dogs in and we go visit all the rooms and close the shades and curtains because it is getting dark now when I get home.  They all usually run to bed rooms and take a peek, sniff about for a minute or two and then rush back into the kitchen... of course... food is their ultimate goal.  Ha!
 
Tonight was different.  When we all returned to the den, I looked back due to the absence of Dakota.  I saw her tail disappear back around the corner down the hallway.  I hollered for her, but she would not return.  I walked back down the hallway and there she was... sitting in Cheyenne's room just looking.  She looked back at me with a very sad look.  I told her, "let's go outside".  She laid down.  She did not want to leave.  It was a moment that I knew exactly what she was feeling. <sigh>  I go through that feeling every day.  But, today was Dakota's day to realize that she is missing her master.  What ever her relationship is with Cheyenne, it must be a very well connected one.  It has taken her longer than the others to show their emotion of the absence of the family.  She has been very separated from me until tonight.  Tonight, she gave me a sad but loving kiss as though she is reaching out for a heart that she could not find in that room that she grew up in as a puppy.  Yes, we sat and cried together as though it has been a feeling we have shared forever.  
 
And it was the day for me to realize again... what that "one thing" is in my life that Curly talked to Mitch about in the City Slickers.  We all have our own "one thing" in life that makes life the secret to happiness.  I found a tiny smile in my heart sitting their with Dakota wishing that the TV was on and that we could hear the blaring sounds of Halo.  As tiny as it was, it managed to overcome the great shadow of loneliness that has taken over my life for the moment.
 
Cheyenne... thank you for touching my life so big that even, as a 51 year old man... father... I can cry when you are not home.  I sat here for an hour trying to describe what it feels like to miss someone so much that... you don't even know what hurts.  
 
After a while, Dakota was ready to go back outside.  She gently gave me that kiss, smelled my breath and off she went to the back door... slowly.
 
Yes, it was a very touching day for me... especially when a heart yearns for someone else.
 
Dad