One thing I believe is that if we’re supposed to meet someone in this lifetime, our paths will cross…
Even on an ordinary day, something can occur that turns out to be a meaningful beginning, but you never really expect it to happen when you’re waiting in line somewhere. Except one day it happened to me at the Fallbrook Post Office with Sunka, when a friendly, charming woman struck up a conversation with me about him while we were both waiting. She was completely smitten by Sunka, and as we talked, she explained she had a pitbull too, that had once belonged to her son. Talking to her made the time go by quickly, and before I knew it, it was my turn at the counter. When I finished, I looked over at her and said goodbye before leaving.
A month or so later, I was walking with Sunka in front of the Senior Living facility where my dad was, and a white BMW pulled over to the curb, and I recognized the woman from the post office when she rolled down the passenger side window. We quickly smiled at each other, as she asked me if I remembered her. Well, being that she’s one of those unforgettable types, I could truthfully answer that I did. And the next thing she lightheartedly said shaped the future. “I want your dog to be my dog’s boyfriend. Can we meet for a playdate?” I thought the idea was wonderful, just what Sunka needed, a girlfriend! (And actually, I could use one too, I thought!) So we exchanged names and phone numbers, and she said she’d invite us over soon, and she did.
The anticipated day came to visit Tina and meet her ‘granddog’, so we drove over to where she lived in a gated community in Fallbrook, not too far from home. I was excited to see if Sunka and her dog would hit it off, and if she and I would have anything in common. I’d only lived in rural Rainbow for a few years, and when it came to making friends here, the pickings were pretty slim.
Well, we had the best time. (You already knew I was going to say that.) And the dogs liked each other and were so darn cute together. Both of them, really beautiful in their way. Dejá was a petite pittie, her sleek coat a gorgeous, silvery-gray color known as “blue.” And Sunka, a 75-pound chunk, and a blonde color called “fawn.” (In the celebrity world, they’d be Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt 20 years ago.)
Tina and I could have talked forever about anything and everything. That first day at her home set our friendship in motion. And by chance, we both wore a t-shirt by the same artist, only hers was pink, because she said she’d accidentally bleached it, and mine was still black. We took our first photo together before I left, and made plans to meet again. Now we both have hundreds of photos on our phones of us and the dogs. We had so much fun over the years making memories together.
Sunka would always do that same joyful whining he’d do when he’d smell the ocean, as we’d enter the gate at Tina’s. And when we’d pull up to the house, Dejá would come running out to greet him, both of them wagging their tails, so excited to see each other. I can see them in my mind. There are just some things we love so much we can’t contain our happiness.
Are you still in touch with both of them?