Pause for ThoughtJan 2011
From Flick: I asked if I could write this month as a tribute to my friend Barni, because he was a very unusual dog and he taught me so much. You see, he spent twelve of his fifteen years as a Rectory dog – and that is quite exceptional. He told me that his first home was very different, but he didn’t like it much, so he ran away and became very confused wandering round the streets in Corby, until someone caught him and took him to a place called Wood Green. He was even more confused there and was bullied by a big black dog – which is why he always used to growl if he saw a black dog when we were out together! Anyway ‘she’ came one day with her husband and they arranged to take Barni home and that was how he became a Rectory dog – and there was so much to learn.
Straight away Barni had to learn to go to morning prayers and to sit quietly while the people there prayed. When I started to go as well, Barni told me that it is best to listen to the prayers and just join in without making a sound, I’m not very good at sitting still, but Barni never moved until all the humans said ’Amen’ then he stood up, because it as time to go for a walk. Barni loved walks and would happily go off with anyone ‘she’ asked to take him; he actually would choose walks over food! He loved to run about on Hills and Holes.
At the Rectory he had to learn that there would be many human visitors and while he could greet them quietly without jumping up (something I can’t quite manage), he had to stay still and listen to lots of things about church matters. Sometimes a whole group would come and there would be lots of talk, but there were always biscuits at those meetings and someone was sure to slip him a tidbit, if he sat and looked longingly at them. He was an expert at that! Other times he went to meetings in the churches, they’re called PCC’s and I went once, but that was enough for me. Again Barni sat quietly until the meeting was over and he liked it if some people went to a warm house for a drink afterwards. He also liked the times’ she’ was invited out to a meal, because he often went along as well and again it was good for tidbits!! But there were also the days when ‘she’ had to be out for a long time and he was on his own, but he never made a fuss, though I think in the last months he was quite glad of my company.
It was sad when he became ill, but again he made no fuss and though I did my best to lick his face, he was just too tired to go on. I kept expecting to see him in the mornings when I woke up, but then I realized I had to do some of the things he taught me – to be patient with humans whatever they do, to be there for ‘her’ at the bad times, to be ready to play and walk, to go to church when asked and always to listen to prayers. I did hear ‘her’ say that maybe humans could learn a lot from a dog like Barni. I also heard her telling little two year old human Jed that Barni had gone to the sky to go walking with granddad. It’s a nice thought – but I do wonder about her theology!!! I do miss Barni, but I am going to try to be a better dog, just like he was.
And there will be lots of things to look forward to in the New Year – so ‘she’ and I wish you a very happy 2011.