Maya Was Our Dog by Bob Smithson

On The Day, Her spirit flowed away from her body, pulling at my heart.

Glimpses of the inevitable approaching during the previous months.

“The lump on her head is not cancer. Keep an eye on it for any changes.”

Maya’s youthful prancing and tugging at the leash, subsided to a gentle gait. Sometimes with

her head lowered.

“Well, she is 14 years old. It’s okay, we don’t need to rush.”

She paused at the car door. No jumping in, only a tentative paw on the runner.

“No worries, Maya, I’ll lift you up.”

Another visit to the compassionate vet. No she is not in pain

Instead of running the length of the open field at the click of the leash unfastened, slow snuffling

in the tall flowing grass.

“I guess it is too hot today to run. Hopefully when the heat breaks, you’ll run again.”

Her food bowl still full at the end of the day. Hmmm.

Standing staring at us in the living room. Is she telling us what we do not want to know?

Oh happy day, her food bowl is empty.

Her foot slid out from under her. A chance occurrence? Untrimmed fur between her toes,

slippery on the laminate?

Another visit to the compassionate vet. No she is not in pain but, maybe a dull ache in her

head.

An ache that says her work as an angel here on Earth is done?

Blue squeeky ball (her favorite toy) lay on the dry grass next to her snout, sunlight sparkling on

its textured surface as she breathed quietly.

I’ll make the arrangement.

Two days before The Day she bounded out of the back door into the morning sun as if going

through a time portal to her youth. Perhaps I should cancel the appointment.

“Okay Maya, we’ll go back now. Don’t need to walk around the block today.”

“Hey Maya. Why are you still in bed? The morning is half gone?”

Oh Oh. She lost her balance.

14 years ago Maya chose us when the rescue people brought her to our home.

The Day was warm, sunny, with a bright blue sky as I lay next to Maya with the compassionate

vet.

I looked into Maya’s eyes as I felt her Spirit surround my heart and sublime out to the universe.

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Bob has been doing photography since the age of 10 years old. He has a Bachelor of Arts in photography. After his 50 years of photographing the genres of family, sports, and portraiture, he now concentrates on  photographing and videoing community events, nature, musicians, dogs and their humans.

He lives with his wife, Sue in Orangeville.  

His images can be found online at @bobsmithsonimages, @bobsmithsonphotography and bobsmithsonphotography.ca