Thanksgiving of 2012 I was mostly vegetarian, mostly Buddhist, completely wary of my every decision. Mostly was my middle ground I told myself but mostly is milquetoast, no matter where on the path.
If I could not see beyond the point of my own nose, a beagle named Cooper could. He was not fazed by my timidity, and to prove it, he gave me all the patience he had, often disguised as curiosity.
Dogs love unconditionally, and sometimes, we are fortunate enough to have a dog fall in love with us, which is to say we fall as well. I did, he did, and for two years, we were.
Regular readers may remember some of our moments. I often do but every Thanksgiving since 2012, I take a moment to be grateful for Cooper.
Maybe what I remember most is the angst of being almost vegetarian, unable to understand the obstacle is the path, and I was on it.
I meditated about buying a turkey. Can you imagine? Me, either. Groundlessness–impermanence–was new to me but through Cooper, I opened to change.
It is a heady combination: canine love, meditation, and yoga. It becomes a practice, a path of one obstacle after another. Some more easily resolved, like purchasing a turkey for Thanksgiving.
It was not about me–never had been–it was about Cooper. Love can blind that way–I’m grateful every time it does–each moment comes only once. It was Cooper’s last Thanksgiving, and we made a day of it.
Feline EmmaRose was just as delighted with turkey. I remembered that for her remaining years with me, our years together without Cooper.
I have not forgotten our feast for three nor have I set such a banquet again. Its heady aroma returns every Thanksgiving for love never leaves.
2012 was yet another year that some believed the world would end, as if existence is a day on a calendar. One day or forever. How are they any different.
KM Huber's Blog 
Dogs live in the now without effort. It seems to be hard for them to remember the then or imagine the yet to come. They are Zen masters with tails.
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Hello Karen. Another lovely post. I believe my first post of yours I read was about Cooper’s passing. I still remember the emotions it brought up in me. What a dear soul he was and that photo captures that beautifully. Thanks.
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Dear he was, Janet! I know how incredibly fortunate I was to have spent some time with him.Thanks for the kind words about Cooper and glad you enjoyed the post.
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Love this tribute to Cooper and EmmaRose!! Wonderful!
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it seems we humans have a need to understand our underlying cosmic nature, and so we have obstacles. many obstacles. obstacles one after another, stretching off the chart of time. dogs, however, have no such needs, and thus no such obstacles. there must be something deep we have to learn from them.
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“It is a heady combination: canine love, meditation, and yoga”. So true Karen 💛
Many happy memories to be grateful for this Thanksgiving 🙏
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Indeed, many, Val.🙏💚
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So, so lovely. I’ll think of Cooper, EmmaRose and Zoe this Thanksgiving!
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I was thinking of Zoe as I wrote this. ❤ So, perhaps a feast for three elsewhere. 🙂
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