The Night Before

It’s different for everyone. I’m sure white sandy beaches, picturesque mountaintops and bubbling waterfalls are among the most common though. The happy place. My understanding is its a place people go in their heads when the environment around them is…well…less than happy.

I don’t really have a need for such an imaginary place because I can’t say I ever really experience less than happiness in my forever home. Joy. From the ground up, that’s my way of life.

The same can’t always be said for my people, who I know experience a fair share of emotional ups and downs. I can’t figure out where dad’s happy place is, but I know mom’s is that spa place she goes every now and then. She loves it there. And I love when she’s happy and hate when she’s sad, so that means I love it there too. (Even though it’s a no-dogs-allowed kind of joint).

All of this was turned on its axis a couple of weeks ago. It was the night before mom and dad went to that place called the hospital to get baby Carter. I sensed something was up. (Us canines have a sixth sense about these things.) But that didn’t distract me from the love fest mom and I had that night. That’s what I call it when a person spends an abnormal amount of time petting me and telling me how loved I am. It’s one of my favorite things.

Something happened during my love fest that night that never happened before. When I closed my eyes, I went to an unhappy place. I can’t explain it. There I was, with dad and baby Carter. But no mom. She didn’t come back from the place called the hospital. I waited and waited. But she never came back. It was terrible.

You can imagine my relief when I opened my eyes and there she was. Alive and well. But when she left for that place called the hospital I went back to that unhappy place in my head. I worried the entire time she was gone. What if she didn’t come back?

As is usually the case, all the worrying was for naught. She did come back and brought with her the best little present named Carter. And I realized something in those precious moments upon their arrival home that day. Not only did everything go just as I had hoped, but I know now why us canines don’t need a happy place. It’s different for everyone. For me, it’s not a white sandy beach or picturesque mountaintop. It’s a state of mind. It’s a way of life. Therein lies the answer. Life is my happy place.

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