Early April had been quite busy with a Mother’s Day Special and several other shoots, planning a surprise birthday party for a friend, along with a long trip out of the country (and let’s not forget tax filing). I found myself bustling around with not much free time. Just when I thought I was getting a grip on what seemed to be serious demands, I received a phone call that quickly changed my priorities. A friend, calling to wish us happy travels, made mention that her old dog Buddy, a 13 year old diabetic was starting to slow down a bit. Weakness, panting, blood sugars off the charts and visits to the veterinarian were becoming much more frequent. “When I return”, I said, I’d like to take some photos of Buddy, OK”? My friend thought that was a great idea.
I thought about Buddy all night, and I thought about the suitcase that wasn’t yet packed, and the house that wasn’t clean yet for our pet sitter, and then I thought about Buddy some more. The next day I called my friend and told her I would like to come by that afternoon and take some quick photos, just because it was on my mind and I had some “extra time”. So that afternoon Buddy’s parents and I arranged a late afternoon photo session. Afterwards, not having time to process the files, and just a day away from catching a plane, I retired my camera to its case, with Buddy’s images still inside.
On Sunday night, a week later, I returned home and went to bed promptly so that I could have a productive Monday. First thing early the next morning, over coffee, I removed my camera’s flash card and started unloading Buddy’s images into the computer. I was happy with the shots and hoped that my friends would like them too. One of Buddy getting kissed by his Dad was heartwarming. Another, of him looking at me with that big smile while his parents gazed at him with so much love, was extra special. I was engulfed in editing the photos when the phone range. It was my husband, and his voice was that of obvious sadness. “Buddy is gone”, he said. My heart sank. “When”? I asked.
The day after I left was when Buddy decided it was his time to move on. Surely it was fortune, not gifted fore-sight that set the date for when those photos were to be taken. For whatever little angel on his shoulder chose the day of this heartwarming session, I am grateful, and I will value these photos always. I spent the rest of the morning staring at the screen, editing the photos with teary eyes. Bitter sweet, here, love and loss live, all in one visual package. May Buddy have restful peace now, for he was a dear and beautiful soul.