Happy Birthday Bubble

Dear Bubble,

Happy Birthday!

Had you been alive you'd have turned 16 today. I had thought earlier that when you'd call it quits I will get another dog to ease the pain , but i never did. There cannot be another dog like you. But you know what? I celebrated your birthday in grand style today. I went to this dog shelter and spent time with all those dogs who belonged to nobody. A great soul introduced me to it. I know you're sulking because you never liked the idea of my playing with other dogs. But I'm hoping heaven mellowed you down. You were not really the furriest of all dogs, but some of these had hardly any hair on them. Some were badly bruised. Not surprising then that no one loved them. They don't make "trophy" dogs. You can't walk them in parks because they don't cost you forty grands. I know what you're thinking. You were half mongrel yourself. But I loved you. Loved you all the more because you were half stray. I wonder what the dog community had to say when your pedigreed mother ran away with your plebeian father. Hmm... but we shall not digress from the point here.

I met "Mendhak", a little, brown she-dog there (you know i don't like the B word). She'd have made you a good girlfriend, if you were genteel enough then. Her people abandoned her because she had rickets. And then i met "Germany", the Alsatian, who won't be around too long. Her folks threw her out of their car when they discovered she had cancer. I'm not sad about her because they're taking good care of her at the shelter and she is living the few days that she has being loved and living in the company of other dogs, and in dignity. There are so many stories about that place. Interestingly, it is being operated from under a flyover for about thirty years now! Feels strange to think how many times have I driven over that flyover, sometimes worried, sometimes anxious, sometimes despondent, unaware of the sheer animal survival will that lay beneath my wheels.

Is it dinner time for you in heaven? Do you still like your toast with cheese? I miss you.

You know the one thing that I really loved about you? You'd always listen to me, your ears cocked, giving me that expression as if you understood. You did understand me, right? I know you never judged me. Like you aren't even now. Heck! Any other dog would have pronounced me insane to be talking over a blog with him! But you were always the philosophical kinds anyway. Moreover, everybody's blogging these days. It has gone to the dogs! (cheesy, eh?) Send me your link sometime.

And if you meet with God please ask him to give me some ideas, if not the money, so I can do something about your fellow mates. Have you heard of Corporate Social Responsibility? It's like a big buzz word here these days. But when it comes to dogs and animals in general, there are hardly any takers. Guess that's because dog-speak is not taught at school.

Did I tell you that i miss you like hell?

All right now don't give me those looks. I know you can't take mush for too long. So time for some tug-at-the-trousers.

Catch me if you can!

Please do.