Monday, September 16, 2019

Tea and Toast

I absolutely love the singing shows on TV. There was a time a few years ago that I searched "The Voice and X Factor + a country name" to get lost in the magic of hearing and watching people live their dreams of making it big. 

I often wonder what became of one of those singers from the UK, Lucy Spraggan. Her song, Tea and Toast, hit me to the core. Probably because it was around the time that Dad passed away and he used food to make me feel better. "Come on Wendy, let's go get some ice cream....some cookies..." and off we'd go to make me feel a little less lonely. Teenage angst in the mid 80's. John Hughes nailed it with his movies!

Have a listen, Lucy's song is special:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egBlPQpo6H4

Flash forward to June 2019. We lost our lovely English Chocolate Lab Coco. We were devastated and sad for so long. I wrote on FaceBook:

Oh Coco. You have loved us unconditionally since the day we brought you home. Your unwavering concern and protection of your humans is like no other dog we've had. You graciously helped Nitro and Rufus cross over the rainbow bridge and grieved with us. You've been our emotional girl. Continue your watch from above. We are in the capable paws of Keisel. Know that you are taking a piece of our hearts with you. 

Our beautiful girl, Coco

James and I had been out of town and got the call that Coco wasn't able to walk. We took an earlier flight home, and spent the day with our girl, loving her, brushing her, comforting her. And helping her cross over the rainbow bridge. I still feel the softness of her fur, right under her ear, behind her jaw. Her extra folds of skin and fur so soft, warm, like the fuzziest blanket you ever could imagine. Sitting on the floor of the vet's office, we had our hands on her for a really long time. I wanted that moment imprinted on me and her; for her not to be afraid as she took her last breath.

We came home, cried an awful lot more and noticed the missing sounds of Coco. Deep breathing as I write this, oh how we miss her still. 

But you know what I did that evening? I remembered Lucy's song. James hadn't eaten in over a day. I made him some tea and toast. And we began living after Coco. 

Yes, tea and toast.