A Perfect Day

Mum hadn’t spoken about her knee replacement surgery which took place soon after we returned from St. Andrews. While she’s been recuperating I’ve been to stay at the House of Mutt, then to Michela’s with the daxies (who encouraged me to bark when the door bell rings! LOL!) As Mum needed to be properly stable on her feet before she can take care of me.

But yesterday, I unexpectedly got to see Mum! Albeit briefly!

I got a bit cuddle –

and then there was a gathering of humans and dogs! And we all had a moment on Darcy’s bench.

But I was a little confused when Lisa led me away, this time with Mac and Maisy. Well, I guess Mum wasn’t ready to have me back just yet.

As we walked away, the church bells rang and I think that was Darcy signalling to us again.

May’s comment: The days leading up to Darcy’s anniversary yesterday had been tearful as I recalled the minutes, hours, days and weeks of living with the dreaded “C” that was taking over Darcy’s body. In the past year, I’ve had a few closures along the way, burying her memories in ten places and the revisit to St. Andrew’s brought a lot of peace. I really hadn’t planned anything for yesterday as I wasn’t even sure if I was suppose to leave the home less than two weeks since I had knee replacement surgery.

But there were a few things happening. My dear friend, Margaret was flying in from Chicago to London to film some episodes for an American TV programme. She had invited me to Paris last year for my first birthday without Darcy. This time she wanted very much to visit Darcy’s bench at St. Luke’s garden.

It also happened to be the day scheduled for George’s handover as he leaves Michela after a week to stay with Lisa for the next. Since it coincided with the first anniversary of Darcy’s passing, I couldn’t resist suggesting a rendezvous at the bench. I wasn’t sure if it would confuse George by seeing him briefly, but it worked out perfectly.

As Margaret lit her special candle from Notre Dame, Lisa arrived with Mac and Maisy, and then came George with Michela and the daxies, Stella and Daxy! It was a happy gathering – and thank goodness George wasn’t sulking. He did that once before when I had left him for a few weeks.

And just as everyone was departing, the church bells rang. Margaret suggested we should go in to sing a hymn or two. As we were walking towards the church, there were jet planes in the blue, blue cloudless sky – soaring into the beyond.

I felt it was a hug from heaven moment and the whole time, I felt at peace as if a load lifted off me.

We sat for a moment at the service before Margaret and I left to come home so I could ice my knee. We also have this crazy tradition where we must take Afternoon Tea whenever we are together in whichever part of the world. Surprisingly, we managed to get a last minute seating at Brown’s Hotel – which was significant in itself.

Because this is where Darcy Dog is displayed alongside Plaay’s Luxury Wooden Toys!

This Darcy Dog is going home to Chicago with Margaret for her grandson.

Thank you, Darcy. And I think you had a hand, rather a paw, in making it a “Perfect Day” …