After writing in my last piece (Compromise) about how Sunka affected people, I really started to wonder if my affinity for him stretched my impressions of that.
But something that happened today told me otherwise.
I went to my favorite thrift store in Idyllwild, which is managed by a wonderful human being, and Sunka loved her, and he loved going to that store because of that. And if we could turn back time, and you could see him, jump out of the car and head toward the main building where he’d often find her behind the counter- or see him on a Sunday at the Farmer’s Market running toward her at the pop up botique where she’d take some special items to sell- you’d know this is not an exaggeration.
Today she said to me that yesterday evening she was walking with a friend (who knew Sunka well also), and all of a sudden, out of the blue, she said to him: “I miss Sunka.” And then she tells me how they spoke about him for a long time while walking.
Now I haven’t seen Julia for at least a month before today, so it wasn’t like I prompted the association, and Sunka has been gone for two and a half years- but this is what she said when I saw her. And then she added that she could see him running toward her and kind of imitated the way he’d run, moving his chesty frame and short legs at an enthusiastic pace to see her. It was a deeply touching moment to hear her say all of this... And what an affirmation for me to continue to tell this story, about a dog who left a lasting impression and a whole lot of love everywhere he went.
And as if this weren’t enough of a “sign” for one day, (because it was!) I just went to the post office to check my mail, and in my PO Box was one thing, a small manila envelope addressed to SUNKA from Angel Paws. That was the name of the crematory I chose for his aftercare. And inside the envelope is a small wooden heart and a brass name plate for the box that holds his ashes. It was lost in the mail for over two years, but it came today.
The mystery of it all stirs a deep wonder in my heart, as I carry on writing his story.
.