The dog has grown impatient with my grief. Familiar now with my waves of sorrow, she quietly retreats. This is interesting to me, since I am also (nearly) silent, I wonder what makes her realize that I’m hurting. Her insistance on hiding or softly slipping into another room is also curious. We form a tangled partnership of discordance — between what is tangible and what is elusive, what is acceptable or not, what is expected, what is extracted, added, remembered, forgotten, lost and acquired.
spanishwoods 
Sylvia, I hope that you are okay, hugs from me. 🙏🏻
LikeLike
Yes I am, it’s a process I think. Thank you John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome my friend. ❤️
LikeLike
Sending you extra love.
Dogs (and cats) have a sixth sense about things. It’s like they know when to give extra and when to give space.
LikeLike
That’s very true Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💞
LikeLike
Dogs always know. They’re picking up on cues that we humans have dropped, I think. I hope you’re okay, Sylvia. 💛
LikeLike
Yes, thank you Lynette. I’m experiencing a different kind of grief than I have when losing other loved ones in the past. It’s interesting how we change as we age and how we (hopefully) grow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to hear of your loss, Sylvia. 💔 Dogs read us very well. Maybe she thinks she is responsible for your grief? Sending you hugs and healing thoughts. 💕
LikeLike
I never thought of that Eliza. You may be absolutely right. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Update: March 9, 2026: Eliza, you were 100 percent right. After you left this comment I decided to tell her “You’re a good girl, it’s ok” when she’d look over at me and slink away or hide. She would stop in her tracks and come back to me. I say this every time this happens now and a couple days ago, for the first time she approached me instead of walking away. I’ve never had a dog do this in my almost 60 years of owning dogs. Thank you for the idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is a very sensitive girl! So glad you were able to bridge the gap, she knows and loves you and her service job. 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many animals can read us and are affected. Hoping you blossom happily.
LikeLike
Yes, you’re right Tom. Thank you for stopping by.
LikeLike
Awwe! Animals tell us how we feel and how they feel so well. Hugs to you.
LikeLike
thank you Sherry
LikeLike
dogs have a way, of being, more in tune with our feelings than we are, they can detect when we need them to be there for us, when we need alone time, and they give it to us, stay out of our ways, and when the air’s changed, they would, wag their tail at us, and, love us, unconditionally.
LikeLike
yes, you’re right
LikeLike
Isolating can look like grief but it’s not. One moment at a time keep suiting up and showing up. We can do this.
LikeLike
thank you
LikeLike
So beautifully sad and maybe you need this but not forever, not for yourself but for the one that has gone. Do what is needed now but also remember to lose love is hard but to lose the self is not what love asks.
LikeLike
thank you
LikeLike
Dear Sylvia, I so very much appreciated your pain and grief and your beautiful words here. I love how even in your grief you are connecting and noticing yourself and your dog and no doubt others around you. We learn as we go, especially about pain and grief, and most of us, not just dogs, can sense something of it always. It is the glory of being human and the deep difficulty, too. Good luck, dear one.
LikeLike