Missing K-Dog

Today Hubby and I were driving home from a wonderful weekend of kayak fishing with his parents on the coast of NC.  Those of you who live in NC or are familiar with Hwy 40, east of Raleigh, know that this stretch of road consists of little more than open road and endless farmland.  Heading to the coast offers anticipation of arriving at the beach, but not much more in the form of visual stimulation.  The most exciting moments are when you get to joke about which of you is guilty of that awful smell that lingers in your car round about Clinton, NC where hog and turkey houses dapple the fields on either side of the otherwise desolite road.  Now, of course being a farm type of girl, I love the scenery and the quiteness of it all.

Most folks traveling down Hwy 40 East would never notice the exit for Magnolia, NC.  A small hog town somewhere along about the time you start wondering when the openness will end and when the heck are you getting to the beach.  For most people, Magnolia is nothing more than a blip on the Eastern NC map.  But for me, Magnolia is special.  Magnolia is where I found the type of unconditional love and companionship I never knew could exist.  Magnolia was where I found my precious baby girl Kyra.

 Kyra about a week after bringing her home

For the last 12 years, whenever I pass the exit to Magnolia, NC, I would exclaim to anyone willing to listen..."that's the town where I got Kyra.  She was just a 12 week old pup living on a hog farm, so cute and cuddly.  She rode home all the way back to Raleigh in my lap."  Passing that town has always triggered the memories I have of Kyra as a cute chubby pup.

This weekend, passing that little town conjured a reaction I would have never suspected.  Riding along, I happened to look up just as we passed the sign for Magnolia...my first thought was as always..."aww that's where I got Kyra"...within moments my eyes teared up and I was a blubbering mess. 

Most of you know that I lost Kyra earlier this year after 12 years of companionship.  This was the very first time since the few days after her death that I really felt that loss.  Sure, I have missed her and have had occassional flash backs of the "good ol' days", but I guess it just hadn't really hit me yet that she was gone.  Seeing that sign made me miss her terribly.  It reminded me that when I got home that afternoon, she wouldn't be there to great me happily and then shun me for leaving her for so long (she was good at pouting)!

I thought I had dealt with losing Kyra.  I thought I had moved on and had nothing left but the happy memories.  But loss is sneaky, stirring up emotions when you least expect them.  Man, I miss my baby girl.  I mean who couldn't fall hopelessly in love with such a spirited and soulful pup?

 Luckily when I got home I still had a wagging tail and happy grin to meet me and even though no other pup could ever fill the space in my heart occupied by Kyra, this one has his own special place too!