Strange Happenings

My golden retriever Kayleigh died in 1995. I had just broken up with my old boyfriend and we were still on fairly friendly terms. We decided to spread her ashes on the equinoxes and solstices in places she loved, one of which was the farm.

We spread her ashes at the farm a few days before Christmas. My grandfather watched the proceedings somewhat bemusedly, I'm not sure whether he thought we were silly or was touched that we considred his place special; probably a little of both. He loved Kayleigh - everyone did; she was a beautiful animal inside and out. Her coat was darker than a regular golden's; somewhere in-between golden retriever and Irish setter. In fact, people regularly asked if she was an Irish setter.

So we went out to the car to get the ashes out and walk across the road. There's a certain point in the winter after the leaves are gone when you can see the water from grandaddy's house. It's not that far away and the light glints off it during the winter sometimes. I was looking at it and noticed a group of dogs coming our way. A big black dog, a smaller beagle-ish kind of dog and and the a sort of collie-ish mix dog. They came from the direction of the water and made a beeline toward us at the house. They were very friendly and seemed excited, leaping and dancing around us.

They followed us across the road and we went all around scattering bits of ashes. The stakes for Sam and Nedra's new house had been laid, but construction hadn't started. We sprinkled the ashes where their house was going to be, figuring that as pure and full of love as Kayleigh was her spirit would help bless their house even further. The dogs were with us the entire time.

We finished our duty, said our prayers and began walking back to grandaddy's. The dogs went on their way.

When we got back, we were talking about how nice it was for those dogs to come escort us as we honored Kayleigh one final time, and wondered where they lived. We figured Grandaddy would have seen them around and know who they belonged to.

He looked straight at me and said, "I've never seen those dogs before."

So were they just dogs who sensed something going on and wanted to be a part of it? Perhaps but the thing that always struck me about them was their utter joy. It's like they were elemental expressions of Kayleigh's loving and joyous spirit. Maybe they were guides for her on the final leg of her journey or sourcs of solace for us, or both.

The important thing is, they were there. And they affirmed my lifelong belief that there is something magical about that place.