Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A Ghost Story

Let me start by saying I don't believe in ghosts.
We've lost three wonderful dogs this year. Tsar was a character! He was a loner in a large pack. He needed space and though he was a big dog, he would let out high pitched squeaks when any of the others invaded his personal space. The others all learned to respect those squeaks and give him room.
He was also quite an accomplished singer and would throw back his head and howl on command often causing the rest of the pack to join in.
He would sit beside me at breakfast and watch my bagel. When I was getting close to finishing it, he'd nudge my arm to remind me that he also liked bagels, especially with cream cheese spread on it.

He enjoyed playing by himself and one of his favorite toys was his big yellow duck.

Tsar died in April. In July Sebastian turned up on our doorstep and joined the family. The two dogs never met, BUT Sebastian likes to remain apart from the crowd and now issues high pitched squeaks to warn off anyone getting in his personal space.
He has started coming up to me at breakfast and nudging me for my last bite of bagel.

He has a favorite toy, the big yellow duck.
Saturday at the vet's office, minutes after Sky died, Sebastian threw his head back and let out a howl. It made the hair on my neck stand up. It was so sad.
Samba was an accomplished counter surfer. She started at an early age. We left her confined to the kitchen when she was only three months old and couldn't reach the counters. No problem, she proceeded to push a chair over to the counter, jump on it and snatch some biscuits. She had some impressive successes including a container of Ben and Jerry's and a whole roast turkey.
Sebastian has never walked into the kitchen. I don't know if it's because he's afraid of slipping on the tile floor or if his first family taught him to stay out of the kitchen. Several times I've tried to coax him into the kitchen, but he stops at the door, sits and wags his tail at me.
So, imagine my surprise last week when Rob and I returned from saying goodbye to Samba at the vet's office to find Sebastian in the kitchen, his front feet planted on the counter, finishing Samba's uneaten breakfast.

Samba and Morgan were best friends and spent a lot of time grooming each other and whispering to each other.
Sebastian, who has never paid much attention to Morgan, this week has been licking her face and walking up and down the stairs with her. Morgan  is slow because of her age and her knee injuries. The other dogs fly past her on the stairs, but Sebastian walks very slowly beside her.
Sky loved to play ball. You all know that I was searching for a replacement ball for him just before he died. The people at Sergeant's sent a little soft ball that he carried around for several days. Yesterday Sebastian picked up the little ball and has been carrying it and tossing it in the air and catching it, just as Sky used to do.
Each of our dogs has his own place where he or she gets comfy in the evening when Rob and I settle down to watch Tv and I pick up my stitching. Sky always stretched out beside my chair and I would have to step over him if I got up. Last night when I went to stand up I had to step over Sebastian who was sleeping in Sky's spot.
He knows that Rob and I are sad and comes over and rests his head in our laps. He's a very sweet dog and I'm sure he's just trying to help us in whatever way he can.
It's a difficult time for all of us, human and canine.
As I said before, I don't believe in ghosts.  And yet.............

24 comments:

Pippen said...

I've have enough 'interesting' things happen to me that I do believe that there is something else going on that we can't see. I believe Samba stopped off on her way to the bridge and gave Sebastian instructions to look after Morgan as did Tsar and Sky. Don't forget, they say angels come in many forms... Sebastian came into your lives for a reason that's becoming clearer as the days go by.

Sam and Pippen's mom.

Matilda the Boxer said...

Awwwww. It's so nice to know that parts of your babies are living on in Sebastian!

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Love those cloud pictures. SHE completely understands as Bella and I seem to have inherited some of Kendra's traits. SHE says it feels like Kendra is still here!

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

The Heartbeats said...

My grandparents bred Australian Shepherds for years. The last two mothers they had were littermates. When Nellie died, Sandy was standing watch. Sandy walked outside and howled the longest howl. Both my grandparents said it made their hair stand on end. Dogs are definitely in tune to things that humans don't understand. That is one thing I know for sure.

Mamma Heartbeat

Anonymous said...

Yes we understand, each one has their way of following and helping. Dad always says before Bites was born, the three previous Scotties, Flipper, Brandi and Retread visited Bites and gave him instructions for Mom And Dad, cause he has their traits and always acts like one of them. They seem to be passing on the love still be given by those gone!

Hope Sebastian helps to make your Thanksgiving some waht better.

Your Furiends
Susie & Bites

Lapdog Creations said...

Wow... just reading this post made the hair on my arms stand up! Amazing and interesting, all at once........ and in words of TSO (who we're going to see this weekend), BELIEVE.........

Mad about Craft said...

Amazing!!! Cynics may say it's copied behaviour but I'm with you!!
Blessed Sebastian!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Not a ghost story at all - just living proof that the "spirit" of you dogs is always there with you. Sebastian wandered into your lives for a reason.

Happy Thanksgiving to you from all of us.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

gMarie said...

Wow! Just Wow. Crazy what they do isn't it? Somehow they just know. Beau who has never given a rip if toys make noise has started giving the hedgie just a squeek or two - so we know. :(

I'm glad that Sebastian found you. He's very special and you are very lucky indeed. I wouldn't say you have a ghost necessarily, but maybe a canine guardian - to help guard against the sadness.

Take care of you. <3 g

Jan said...

I do believe in ghosts or whatever it is that connects us all--living and dead--in the universe. This confirms my beliefs.

Dexter said...

Just accept it for what it is. Who knows what is happening? Sebastian sounds like a great guy. Hearing that howl must have been kind of spooky.

Mango Momma

SissySees said...

I'm sobbing... for your losses, for Sebastian's interesting new traits, and for my own ghost stories. Difference is, I do believe in ghosts. Gretchen and Sissy respectively were born days after each of the boys died, and while they are night and day, each girl will sometimes CLEARLY embody the boy who came and went before her, and as soon as the Knight - has to be him, the one the boys recognized as the supreme alpha - calls the girl by the boy's name, the behavior stops.

I could go on for hours, but instead will say that those we love, those who love us, never really leave.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I think we are more connected than we realize to those that have passed and they are not that far away...I also think our dogs know more than we sometimes realize as well. I've had similar things happen, and I've learned there's no such thing as coincidences. Take them as a sign that all is well and as it should be...

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!! Take care Sue!

Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and Mom said...

No, not ghosts. But rather the spirits of those we loved and lost come by to check on us and continue to be close to us. I always felt that I couldn't talk about these things because others wouldn't understand and think I've lost my marbles. But this has happened to me also...on quite a few occasions. A love that strong never dies. It remains with us always and sometimes it just shows up on our doorstep when we least expect it.

I wrote of one such happening involving our Max (DaOdderWeenie).
www.allthedogsinmylife.com/Bart_Max

rottrover said...

Who knows? Maybe Sebastion, but he's not talking!

Kerry said...

My eyes are welling up. What you say confirms what I have always thought about dogs...they know things that are unknowable.

Oh gosh, those clouds.

booahboo said...

Seb is a very sensitive dog... and it is most wonderful that he tries to
help you both out and every furry out of your sadness.

Angels come and help you out when you need them most and i am sure Seb is one too.. just a furry one.

The dog in the clouds.. only a few lucky ones will get to see them.

When my mom passed away at home... Dommy let out a very long eerie howl. He never howls at all.. but that day.. we could all feel his sadness.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you... and you guys do have a lot to be thankful for.. esp for Sebastian for dropping by on that day.

bichonpawz said...

Oh my...those clouds! They just take my breath away...as do the things you just said about Sebastian! I believe he is there for a reason...The spirits of Sky and Samba and Tsar...live on...in Sebastian. We are thankful that we have "met" you and for your friendship. Special blessings coming to your family from ours today. Happy Thanksgiving! Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug

Molly the Airedale said...

Visits from your angels is so very special, isn't it <3
Happy Thanksgiving!

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful story. There is a lot of love in your home. Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday :)

The Roo Family

Jo's World said...

Several of us who are regulars with the Portie Blog said that Tsar SENT Sebastian to be with you and I can believe it. I call them Spirits, and nothing that happens like you have described surprises me. I only feel blessed and bet you do too.

The clouds are beautiful!

Cheers and hugs,

Jo

Marjie said...

How nice that Sebastian is trying to be of such great comfort to you. I think often of how much you miss Tsar, and how Sebastian turned up just in time to comfort you after that loss. And now he's helping comfort you after your losses of Samba and Sky. You are indeed fortunate to have found him, and he to have found you.

Ruby said...

Ma read this post days ago, and thought she commented, but apparently not....
I do think Angel Samba and Angel Sky are sending you messages of love. That they will always be here for you, if only in your hearts.
Sebastian seems to be their voice.

Kisses,
Ruby

Nicki said...

Despite being two very different dogs, Lyric has a lot of habits/behaviors that Oreo had. Sometimes it drives me crazy, but they also helped me heal.