Reviews: The Bookless Club and dreaming of another dog

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I knew it was a mistake.

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I had things to do, after all.

I did it anyway.

It’s impossible to resist the siren call of old photos.

I put a box labeled “Clementine” on the dining room table. Clementine was our golden labrador. For a long time she was my shadow. And here it is again, in glossy 4 × 6 format, a bundle of soft, golden plush toys offset by dark, serious eyes and a teddy bear nose.

Oh, my darling Clementine.

Lost and gone forever.

Losing Clementine was unspeakable suffering. His death was unexpected. Cancer took Clemmie at its peak. It just wasn’t fair. What is almost as bad is that I was blind to his symptoms. Oh, how I wish I had understood that a change in behavior was something to watch out for.

Cl̩mentine accompanied me wherever I went. She would be waiting at the door when she heard the clicking of car keys or saw a coat put on. She loved to be with me, but more than that, she felt it was her job to be by my side. Protecting me Рall of us safe Рwas his life goal. She took her job seriously. She babysat me while I worked in the garden. She positioned herself at the laundry room door to repel any invaders. Like a trained bodyguard, she always stood between me and the entrance. She was a sentry. Everything that awaited me had to go through her first. She was also just a big stuffed animal. Children could ride her, push her, lie on her, dress her Рher tolerance was limitless.

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Each evening, Clémentine made a circuit between all our beds. Towards the end of her life, before I knew she was sick, she was standing next to my bed, her eyes fixed on the door. Normally she would have curled up and fell asleep, but not anymore. She was not feeling well. She knew something was wrong and she was vigilant. Either way, she saw him as a threat to all of us. As she became ill, her breathing became difficult and she was exhausted. I forced her to lie on her bed in the corner of my room. She did not want to. She wanted to stand guard near my bed. I took her to her bed and pushed her over. She would give him a few minutes and then come back to my bedside.

And then I took her to the vet.

And then it was my turn not to leave her.

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She was gone in two months.

When you get a pet, heartache is part of the package. But against my better judgment, I want one. I want another dog. I want to put my feet under a warm dog while I write. I want a dog that tilts its head, nods in agreement when I present a theory. I want to distribute cheese and I feel like I am distributing duplicates. I want to get to 60 pounds pooch at the foot of my bed, hell with the bedspread. I want this unbridled joy on all fours to greet me when I walk through the door. I want the quiet company of a dog when the rain beats against the windows.

This is what I don’t want: the vacuum cleaner always present in the hall because, what do you know? Hangar for dogs. Sticky rollers for removing dog hair from your clothes, because, what do you know? Hangar for dogs. I apologize to all those who are unfortunate enough to sit in the back seat of your car because, what do you know? Hangar for dogs.

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But here’s what I really don’t want.

What I really don’t want is to start losing a dog again.

Sorry, Clementine.

Jane Macdougall is a freelance writer and former National Post columnist who lives in Vancouver. She will write on The Bookless Club every Saturday online and in The Vancouver Sun. To learn more about what Jane does, check out her website, janemacdougall.com

This week’s question for readers:

What has been your experience of losing a pet? Do you have another one?

Email your responses, not an attachment, in 100 words or less, with your full name to Jane at [email protected]. We will print some next week in this space.

Answers to last week’s question for readers:

Staycation victories to share? What about the new local gems discovered thanks to the pandemic?

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• One of our local anti-COVID “Payne Train” outings was at Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park this summer. The “train” is made up of adults and young children, aged 1 to 13, in varying ways. It’s a great base camp for family hikes, swimming, and kayaking, all with easy access. Several campsites are clean and have convenient facilities. Our activities included a 60 minute kid friendly hike on part of the Trans Canada Trail directly from the campsite. The trail follows the Chilliwack River from the mouth and offers several viewpoints where salmon spawn. The water in the lake is clean and cool for swimming and calm enough for simple kayaking / inflating use. At the mouth of the river, it is possible to safely wade in the shallows and rockhound for unique collectibles such as rock crystals and agates. The area offers a wifi-free and easily accessible opportunity to play as close as possible to true nature.

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John payne

• I live a staycation life, so to speak, because I live in Hopkins Landing on the Sunshine Coast. It is perhaps the best place on Earth to live because we have our own water supply, which allows us to maintain our vegetable gardens during the hot and dry summer. We have the most exceptional views of the ocean, islands and mountains, with ferries coming and going throughout the day, and access to the best beach on the coast for swimming and strolling. However, I had the opportunity the other day to round up a few other adults and a few children and we set off from the government dock in nearby Gibsons for a magical day of a short boat ride to the landing dock. from Keats Camp we had a 2 -km Forest Walk to Plumper Cove Marine Campground where we enjoyed a picnic, sitting on the beach, bathed in the sun and plunged into the sea for a refreshing swim. The little ferry on foot picked us up and we laughed and traded puns to Gibsons. Although living in a situation similar to Hopkins, the trip to Keats was like a trip to a foreign country or another planet in these times of pandemic. What a treat.

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Mary findlay

• We decided to check out all the places we usually drive by. When was the last time you peaked at SFU? How many times have you wondered about the small community of Sea Island as you came and went from YVR? Turn right onto the road you usually turn left on? The pandemic is our chance to choose the path not taken.

L. Anderson

• The city being so quiet, I loved visiting the local art galleries and museums. What a joy to have exhibition spaces practically for me while supporting institutions that are struggling enormously amid budget cuts and layoffs. While visits to blockbuster shows draw sold-out crowds, I quietly enjoyed local gems such as the Anthropology Museum, Polygon Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery and Audain Art Museum in Whistler. I encourage everyone to support the local galleries and take advantage of these wonderful spaces.

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Jeanette Johnstone

• We hadn’t traveled at all during COVID-19, but on July 22 of this year we decided to go to Centennial Beach. We left our home in Mission armed with instructions, a picnic, lawn chairs, sun hats and sunscreen. My husband doesn’t like city traffic so he always has a plan to get around it. We traveled the back roads around Abbotsford heading west, eventually reaching Zero Avenue, although he wasn’t sure it was Zero Avenue. “We’re heading west,” he said. “We’ll end up somewhere on the coast.” Finally, we reached White Rock, then Crescent Beach. After stopping for directions and driving around Boundary Bay, we found Centennial Beach. It only took three hours this time.

Bonnie hamilton