Sunday, March 11, 2012

Missing Oskar

I'm missing Oskar.

The weather has turned lovely and warm.  If Oskar were here, he would have spent all day in the yard, overseeing all activity, occasionally turning his big, black nose to the sky to inhale the smells of spring.

Ulani would be in and out, taking her lead from Oskar while outdoors.  They might run to the fence to bark at something in the brush.  She might follow Oskar to the street side of the fence to run with a passing pickup truck.  But she would lose interest and come back indoors.  

Oskar would stay outside.

This afternoon I looked at photos of the Briards at the Crufts dog show in England.  Some of them appeared to have soft, shiny coats, more like Afghans than Briards.  Briards are meant to have a "goat coat," coarse enough to keep itself untangled, with some waves.  Certainly not straight.

Oskar had a great coat.

Don't get me wrong.  I love Ulani.  But her personality is very different from Oskar's.  Where she is loving, cuddly, in my face, Oskar was independent.  He kept more to himself.  In that way, a cuddle from Oskar was a rare gift.

And today I'm missing Oskar.

5 comments:

The JR said...

Aw, he was such a good guy.

I'm sorry you are really missing him today.

Some days are just a lot tuffer than others

MaryEllen Schneider said...

Thanks for sharing, Johanna. Oskar was a lucky boy to have you and vice versa.

Seems to me that wonderful memories keep our loved ones close even after they're gone.

Pam said...

Johanna, I think that is a boy Briard trait! Booker is the same; rarely get kisses, gives more hugs but they are unsolicited and given freely. I treasure each and every hug, even if it means it takes us 10 minutes to get to the trails across the street. The boys are so special.

Josie Burck said...

Are the portraits helping?

Johanna said...

Josie, yes, I smile every time I look at your portrait of Oskar and Ulani! And since it's hanging on the wall between the living room and the kitchen, I pass it many times each day.