Lola’s Story
A Girl’s Best Friend
On Friday February 2nd, 2024 I had to make the hardest and most painful decision I’ve ever made to this day, and say goodbye to my best friend of 14 years. It was just her and I, the same way our story started.
I brought her home on my 18th birthday back in July of 2010. I had just graduated high school and said, “I’m gonna get myself a puppy.” I found a post for free puppies, and I went that same day to pick her out of a litter. She was the only one who looked different from the rest. Black and tan coloring, versus all tan or white, a slight wire coat, and the most calm and mellow little girl.
Everyone that met her, was loved by her. And anyone that knew her, loved her. She was entirely fearless. (Except nail trims. Never liked those.) Every animal, person, of any size or type, she loved. So unconditionally. She was the epitome of a lap dog, and honestly the best cuddler I’ve ever had.
She’s the smartest dog I’ve ever known. So many things that I never taught her, she just knew. I truly feel that she understood every single thing I ever told her. She would wait on the other side of the street, in the same spot, until I got back, she would come jump into the shower and bath with me If I just asked her if she would, and she would come in there and just sit with me, she never left my side. She also had the “I love youuuu” howl, down pat. We used to say it every single night before her lungs got older a couple years back.
She was the biggest begger in world. And I suppose I’ll take responsibility for that as we did make a silent pact that we’d share all of our meals together forever. I didn’t eat much of hers, though she definitely loved all of mine. Especially all of my peas everytime I had fried rice from Panda. She’d eat them right off the tips of the fork.
She’d go to the end of the earth for me. Literally anything I needed or wanted, she’d find a way. I’d never known the feeling of true and unconditional love, but that’s her.
I obviously knew this day would come, but I just never truly knew how, or when, and I wanted to live as though we’d live forever. She was already two by the time my son was born. He’s now going to be 12 this year. They grew up together.
We grew up together.
Looking back at 18, I was so young. But I think the best decision I did make, was getting Lola. I somehow set myself up to never truly fail, and to get the opportunity to know the feeling of true love. I feel like she somehow taught me to be a better person. She’s the true definition of a best friend. And the best friend I’ve ever had, forever.
But she fulfilled her entire life’s purpose, in being my rock, my constant, my reason, and my “why.”
I’ve since been able to find so much positivity, and beauty, and worth out of life. I for some reason feel empowered. I feel stronger. I feel optimistic about my future. I feel that she passed on to me, all of her strength, and her guidance, and her grace, and I want to gift this to others, and teach and guide and to just love every one and every thing, the way that she taught me to; unconditionally.
To my little geil, my best friend, my forever, I dedicate my passion and my career, to you.
My logo is a drawing of her paw, and my hand joined above our birth month flowers. I knew since she passed, that I would honor her forever through my art of Dog Grooming; and “Lola’s Paw” was born.