Remembering Isidore

On the trail Isidore

Isidore's birthday is coming up next week. He would have been 7 years old on November 17th. I miss him this morning. Even though Desie is right here next to me. Isidore was a good dog. Just so you know.

This is an excerpt from some of my writings about my sweet Isidore [from last March]:

There were our beloved walks on the Fire Trail in the late afternoons or evenings. These were our best walks. These were our best times together.

It was so beautiful up there on the trail and we both loved loved to behold this fragile beauty that was the trees and the sky and the ever changing views of the horizon. And you, most especially, liked to romp about and explore off trail scents [and sometimes roll in them], and, although I attempted to disparage you with warnings of the bath you would have to have upon our return home, you loved to play in the puddles and little creeks that were present [just for you?] after the rain. [Do you remember my commentaries on our way home about your muddy paws and my struggles, while driving, to keep you in one spot to lessen the dirt damage.]

You always ran ahead of me when we were on the trail but you always stopped to check where I was. [I must confess, I loved this part of our fire trail relationship. It showed that you knew we had to always keep track of each other and be sure we were taking good care of the other.] When I called you, you would race back to me. And then, run off again. Once you got lost and you could not find me and I could not find you. I stayed put and called and called you. Isidore! Isidore come! Izzy! And after quite some time—I think you had gone looking in the wrong direction and had to double back—you found me. And I found you. I could tell you had been lost and worried. We were so so happy [and relieved] to be back together.

I must add that you endured your post fire trail baths with patience and, what seemed to me, an expression on your wet face that showed understanding of the nature of these outdoor-indoor transitional necessities: we had had great fun outside up there on the fire trail, but now we must get clean enough to go inside.

Isidore Delp

November 17, 2003-February 18,2010

Borrowed words borrowed from my dear friend Elizabeth: Study situations and objects intricately.

*click on photos for larger view.