My “It’s A Wonderful Life” Moment

I was going to use this post to write about how great Christmas Eve is.  How I remember being little and being fooled by my dad dressing up as Santa.  Cookies and carols and a toy Rudolph that plays music and dances while his nose glows.  Friends and festivities.  Perhaps I still will.

I was completely in the Christmas spirit today.  I made two batches of cookies, then headed off with my family to visit my grandmother and bring her some Christmas.  We all had a nice time celebrating the holiday as well as my sister’s birthday, which is also today.  We watched a holiday favorite on tv and listened to beautiful music.  We caught the local news and watched the “Santa tracker” plot out where Saint Nick was at that very moment.  It was pretty great.

I got home to my front door and saw some bags and boxes strewn on the front walk.  Wierd, I thought.  Who would leave random crap lying in someone else’s yard?  I opened the door and called out for Teddy.  I walked around and started to put my stuff down when I realized that Teddy wasn’t coming to greet me.  This never happens.  Teddy’s normally at the door the second I come home.  So I walked around the rest of the house.  No Teddy.  WTF?!  Where is my dog?  Then I realized that V probably let him get out the door again.  So I grabbed a leash and ran out the door, where I saw V’s ex.  “Yeah, Teddy got out,” he said.  “Merry Christmas.” 

So once again I’m out combing the neighborhood, weeping, calling for my dog.  On Christmas Eve.  And I can’t help but think – what if something happens to him?  What if he gets hit by a car and dies on Christmas?  What if I can’t find him?  How am I supposed to have a Christmas if my dog’s missing?  After 15 minutes of walking, I can’t find any trace of him, except my roommate’s “I last saw him going that way”.  So I got in my car, weeping, calling for my dog and driving around the neighborhood.  On my way back to the house and during a tearful conversation to Bre, I spotted him on a neighbor’s lawn.  “Teddy!” I cried out the window.  He stopped and looked at me, and I dropped the phone and leaned across the car to open the door.  When I did, I saw his little face, and I patted the seat and called him and he jumped right in.  He licked my face and my tears, and I told him that he could lick me any time he wanted (which, for the record, I have never said to anything or anyone else ever).  Then he hopped into the back seat where he normally sits and waited patiently for us to get home. 

So once again I was reminded to appreciate the good things in my life a little more.  I remembered that things don’t stay the same forever.  The people and things that we often take for granted can be out of our lives before we know it.  So, especially at Christmas, take a moment to say “I love you”, or “Thanks for being a good friend”, or “Good dog”.  Show people that you care.  Don’t miss an opportunity to do something nice for someone.  Fill your life with good friends and good deeds and make the most of everything that comes your way.  Because I know that’s what I’m going to try to do.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some cocoa to drink and some last minute Christmas to enjoy with the best present ever.  My dog.