Mollie, my studio assistant
A few days ago, we had to have Mollie put to sleep. Even though at some level, I knew the time was near, it still felt like a shock. She had just turned 13, and she was my "studio assistant" and constant companion. She made sure to it that I went into my yard multiple times a day, which brought me great inspiration, for by far most of the florals I paint come from my yard. Frequently, she’d be ready to go back inside long before I was. I’d get distracted with taking pictures of some favorite flowers or pulling weeds, which I always find to be therapeutic.
She was also my model for gesture drawings, which I love to do. I’ll include some here.
We got her as a rescue at 4 months, and she'd been severely neglected. This left her with some anxiety that she never completely got over. She loved all people, though. I know there's nothing unusual about losing a pet, and I know there are countless others losing far more than a 4-legged companion, and it still makes me so sad.
It's a mingling of guilt because I didn't realize how badly she felt until the end, and missing her following me from room to room and meeting me at the front door when I come in.
My husband's already talking about wanting to get another dog, preferably an Aussie/Border Collie mix, and I can't even consider it yet. How many of you have lost a beloved pet? I'd love to hear your experiences with that. Did you choose to get another? If so, how long did it take you to be able to do that?
