Where does she go in her mind when darkness is her constant companion?
When she sleeps she utters little cooing noises that speak sometimes of
complete contentment and more rarely of mild fright and uncertainty.
When she wants to play and wrestle, she seeks out Butch and they do their
faux-fighting dance and cover as much ground as possible.
When she needs non-human comfort, grooming and warmth, she goes to
the big shaggy body of Jango who caresses her with his paws and configures
himself into a large comma so she can snuggle close and fall peacefully
asleep in his powerful embrace where she feels safe and protected.
When she feels the need for exploration and freedom, she romps the fields
and woods fearlessly in her darkened world, sightless but alert never disturbed by obstacles that impede her progress of seeking out a new world to experience and embrace.
Her joyful approach to life is most evident
under these circumstances of unlimited, unimpeded adventuring.
There are those times, though, when it is with me that she seeks assurance and
stability. She knows these times and comes to where I am either asking to
snuggle against my leg while I sit in my lounge chair or parking her warm
body on my lap as I watch TV or entangling her self under my feet as busy
myself with chores or engage in a long walk. She knows what goes on between
us and it is that bond of thankfulness and trust that we have developed
between us.
She knows she is loved and has finally come home to where her persistent distant calling has led her.
Darby is no longer that pathetic blind canine who escaped death by needle.
She is what all dogs long for, and that is to be part of the human experience
of being seen as a faithful companion, giving more than she receives and being
known as a member of a living team of trusting partners.
There is no joy as wonderful as this: A free spirit that allows herself to be
shared, enjoyed and loved, who gives unselfishly and is devoid of all judgment.
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| Darby & D'light when we were out visiting! |
If you want to see more of Darby here's a post of when we went out last summer to visit her and her family.
Again stories like this is why we foster and why we can let the fosters go. Darby has an amazing family and we feel lucky to have played a very small role in helping her to find happiness, love and adventure.
