11/07/2025
This is going to be a little longer than my IG post.
First of all, Oakley was my favorite present I've ever received. If you know me, you know I love animals. In typical me fashion, I begged Mikal for ONE MORE animal. So, for my birthday I got Oakley from a local who was selling golden retriever puppies off of craigslist. I scoured that site until I found perfect looking little golden puppies. There were three left and only one was a male. It's safe to say it was meant to be. He was a lazy puppy that had to be dragged out in the morning to a patch of grass and carried back in for snuggles with me before Mikal would leave for early morning PT. Through the rest of his puppy years he was the epitome of the perfect boy, only chewing up one photo as a puppy, never touching a shoe, socks or the kids toys. He continued to be the perfect dog throughout his life; snoozing between two seats in a uhaul on the move from Texas back home to Wisconsin, moving into the country, moving again and then understanding where the fence lines were in our city lot without us teaching him, never taking off, except for leisurely strolls with Sam at the farm.
He was my friend when I didn't have many, far away from home in Texas. He was there for the weeks or months Mikal would be training with units about to deploy. He was the perfect dog for a little boy and girl to grow up with. He loved to be near me, no matter where I was; upstairs, in the kitchen, living room, or in the garden - he loved picking fresh green beans on his own. He tolerated our mean cat who absolutely hates EVERYONE but adored him. He tolerated my mom's goober of a dog, Sam (IYKYK). He slept in Mikal's spot for the weeks he was in North Dakota for work and comforted me on the worst days of my life, like when I lost my dad. For over ten years, God placed into my life a blessing he knew I needed. I believe it in my soul and feel in my bones, I'll never have another dog like Oakley.
Oakley was my soul dog.
It has taken me over a month to share this.
Nobody really talks about how hard it is after your dog goes. How the house is a little more empty, a lot more quiet or how their absence leaves a hole in your chest that can’t be filled. No one talks about how they wait for you their entire life and that you are their entire world but what happens when they’re no longer with us?
There is silence where a vicious sounding bark once echoed. A lack of peace and an empty space where a warmth once guarded your back. There isn’t a ball of fur to walk into or trip over in the middle of the night. A whining greeting doesn’t wait for you when you arrive home.
I’m no longer met with big brown eyes when I start chopping on the cutting board. Or a big red fluffy butt sitting on my foot at the kitchen table, living room couch or waiting for the bus. The warmth and comfort Oakley offered during late night snuggles no longer exists. Instead, we’re left with all of the memories he gave us through the best and worst moments of my life. In the physical, he rests under a red pin oak. But I like to think that he’s running around in heaven too and he’s found not only my dad but the three other goldens that came before him.
“And I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favourite dog is buried in the yard”
