There is a certain blanket that I tried to declutter many, many times.
I called it my Bambi Blanket.
I loved that blanket. It was always fluffy and cool and was the best for creating a warm cocoon on winter nights as a child. I didn’t take it to college, but it somehow ended up in my own home soon after I had children. I envisioned it as a perfect picnic blanket for outings at the park.
But then . . . the very first time I used it for a picnic, I spread it out on what turned out to be the stickeriest piece of grass ever known to man.
At the time, we lived in westish Texas. (Westish means west, but not crazy-far-west.)
In westish Texas, it gets hot. Feels-like-an-oven hot. Three-digit-temps that don’t include any zeroes.
And in the hottest, fry-an-egg-or-your-feet-on-the-sidewalk part of the summer, horrid weeds pop up. At the top of them are stickers. Not fuzzy ones that attach to your socks and get on your nerves, but thorny ones that sneak inside and make you think you’ve stepped on a nail and jump around the room screaming.
I . . . hated . . . those . . . stickers.
Even just a teeny, almost-invisible thorn from one could send you howling in pain.
And that’s what happened to the Bambi Blanket. Stickers galore, lots of broken-off thorns, and honestly, it was unusable. I tried a few times, but even years later those thorns are still evil.
So I had attempted, many times, to talk myself into letting that blanket go. It was unusable.
But oh, the childhood memories. They just wouldn’t let me stick it in the trash. (Donating would be cruel to the poor, unsuspecting mama in the thrift store.)
But on Sunday, I got rid of it.
Friday night, our dog came inside and didn’t run immediately to the kitchen like she always does. Instead, she looked around and found her favorite, most comfortable spot and curled up there.
Something was wrong.
The next day, we watched her and worried. She was getting more and more lethargic. Since she had always been an unbelievably healthy dog, we have no real experience with vets and wondered what you even do when a dog is sick on the weekend. We had decided to ask our friend at church, a vet, for advice if she wasn’t acting better on Sunday morning.
Instead, we had to ask her what to do when your dog dies.
Sunday morning, Hubby found her.
Our friend was so kind, explained the options, and offered to meet us at her clinic. She said to wrap Boots up in a blanket.
I knew the perfect blanket to use.
The blanket in this picture isn’t actually the Bambi Blanket. (And that is the one spot in our entire 1/2 acre yard that didn’t have stickers.)
But lest you think it was bad to use a sticker-ey blanket, let me assure you it was fitting.
Boots loved stickers. Really. We thought it was crazy too.
But she was one tough puppy. We brought her home to that sticker-ey yard when she was 7 weeks old.
She loved to eat them. She would pull them out of her paws with her teeth and gobble them down. She would even go looking for them, pulling stickers out of our shoestrings and eating those too.
So yes. I was finally willing to let that painful blanket go. It went to good use.
--Nony
So sad for your loss, but what an amazing way to honor your dog and memories attached with the blanket. Prayers for your family. Losing a pet is so hard.
Precious!! I am sitting at my desk at work with tears in my eyes.
You honored Boots with a blanket from her family and her beloved stickers at the same time.
Our animals are such treasures such a fond tribute to your furbaby.
((Hugs))
Beautiful post. Blessings to you and your whole family as you bid farewell to your loved one.
So sorry to hear about the loss of the canine family member…. It’s nice to think of the blanket and Boots together.
I wrapped my old cat in an afghan my aunt made that had holes and had felted when somebody washed it in the washer. He loved that afghan, my aunt loved cats and it helped knowing he was wrapped in something that meant something to me.
I’m so sorry about Boots. Do you know the Rainbow Bridge poem? A lot of people find it comforting.
I’m so very sorry. It is heartbreaking when a precious pet dies.
Tears. Good for you.
Thanks for sharing !
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Boots. Your beautiful post has me in tears. It seems there could not have been a more appropriate blanket. You may have read this poem before, but I share it with you hoping it brings some comfort.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
Awww. I am so sorry. Hugs!
So much nicer, though, to use a beloved blanket this way than to pitch it.
So sorry to hear about Boots. We lost our 12 year old dog 2 years ago and it was so hard! Praying God gives you and your family peace and comfort. I am so glad you shared this story!
So sorry about Boots. It is so hard to loose a family pet.
I grew up in West Texas (Westish, as you call it), and those stickers….oh my…SO painful. I now live in SE Texas and I do NOT miss those at all…..
I’m so sorry about Boots! What a great tribute..
Oh my…. what a great way to honor your furbaby with a favorite blanket. I hate the loss for your family . I am not looking forward to the day we tell our sweet Bailey, 14; Bella 11 and Bobbi 17 goodbye. Hope you guys find peace….
I was laughing and crying simultaneously about Boots loving those awful stickers. I live in that area! I’m so sorry about your dog. Using that good blanket to wrap her up in sounds really comforting.
Sometimes you really need the right moment to give away something special. I think that I finally had to give my cabbage patch doll to my aunt rather than donating it; at least it fit in the miniature wheelchair and resolved the issue of her leaving it empty or putting the down syndrome doll there.
My Professor Xavier doll went to her for disposal because she’s a Trekker that collects handicap awareness stuff. Otherwise it would have went in “the toybox my mom keeps because she might have guests with children.”
Oh, honey, I am so sorry for your loss. It’s so hard saying good-bye to our animals. I’m glad that you were able to wrap yours in that precious blanket of yours. Much love to you and your family.
I’m so sorry.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your furry friend. It’s so sweet that you used your special blanket to say goodbye to a loved furry friend.
This was a really beautiful post, Dana. (((HUGS))), my friend.
Perfect. Just…….perfect! What a wonderful way to say goodbye to a dear friend.
So sorry for your loss! That is a sweet and so so sad story. Glad you had such a fitting blanket for your dear dog. My condolences to you and your family.
So sorry to here about your family per. We lost two last year. It’s never easy.
Glad you were able to put the blanket to rest with Boots. A loving thing to do.
That’s so sad. I’m so very sorry. I’m glad she didn’t suffer, and it was special that you had that blanket to wrap her in. We have wrapped many of our pets in receiving blankets I had stored. It makes it feel more personal if they’re wrapped in something special when we put them in their final resting place.
I’m so sorry you lost your furry baby.I lost one of mine last summer,a chihuahua named Sampson.My thought’s and prayer’s are with you and your family.
What a beautiful post to your Boots. I am so sorry for your family’s loss! It is a blessing that you had something fitting, and obviously cherished, to let her take with her. You blessed her with a wonderful, loving home and a special, loving, parting.
So sorry for your loss. What a wonderful way to put it to good use. Gone but in a way forever with you.
hugs .. losing a pet is never easy
I’m so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful dog.
What a sweet and touching post. Yes, your Bambi blanket was the perfect thing.
Hugs! I’m so sorry for your loss! What a sweet story and beautiful way to honor your memories.
So sad! I’m sorry. What a perfect way to use the blanket.
I still have my baby blanket. All of the ribbon trim is shredded and the weave is worn thin. When I was in middle school we lost our dog, Scruffy to a brain injury caused by a moose attack. My Dad took him to the vet in blankey and brought it back home. I still cuddle with it when I get really ill but it stays tucked away where my current dogs can’t chew it.
So sorry for the loss of Boots.