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I didn't tell the whole truth about how she came here.,  coming in the gate.

At the time there was still Tulip, Ramon and Lily.  It was not long since Como Tu and Markey were murdered by a Malmute that was visiting next door.  And as i said,  I'd just brought home one of the Daughter's pups, Ynona, because she couldn't take her on the move back to Michigan.

All these.  Little dogs,  that I don't really love although I did love them, individually.  

So Chinche lived down the road in a vacant area.  A weed dog.  She was maybe a few months old.  Young.  I know nothing more before her appearance there.  Everytime I went in or out the gate to the truck,  she would come out of the weeds,  come in this direction.  And as is done in the barrios of N Mex,  to indicate…Go Away…whether it's animals or humans,  you throw a stone.

Over and over i threw a stone,  yelled,  Go AWAY!  and she would run back and watch me from the weeds.  But again and again she came.

I told the other part about how Ynona didn't make it and i left the gate open.  I gave up because I was just too sad from many things.  And that was how it began.  She came.  I was burying Ynona and the maniac called to me…."Go,  look at your dog"  indicating in the direction of the house with his chin as is the way in N Mex.   I came in,  looked around and then saw on the bed,  her head on the pillow,  that small black and white form,  ears straight up.  "Chinche" he said.  Bedbug in spanish.  She became my dog.  He liked the little ones.  And all along,  these 16, 17 years she has remained wary of anything different,  shy.  But she trusted her best bet.  It worked out.  Chinche.  She was Courageous.

I read how people chose a word to flag an intention in the New Year.  I have never done that,  but if i did,  this year,  the world would be Trust.  Trust the innate Intelligence that prevails.  The innate Order.  As Chogyam Trungpa calls it,  Basic Goodness.  Things take care of Themselves.  Trust this.  It's OK.

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65 responses to “~Chinche~”

  1. Mo Crow Avatar

    Trust takes a long time

    Like

  2. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    Of the words used to define trust – reliability, strength of someone, assurance; I think here it is assurance that I most feel fits you and Chinche. Chinche and again, I am using human emotions to describe her but so be it; I think most of all she felt assured that your stone throwing was done half halfheartedly and so she trusted and in return, gave so much…

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  3. grace Avatar

    and goes on Forever

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  4. grace Avatar

    yes…was. She’s gone. On her Way.

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  5. Liz Avatar

    Oh dear heart …

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  6. Michelle in NYC Avatar

    The waiting is over. I’m surprised by these watery eyes. Her story is touching because it is so plain and true.
    Blessings for your journey Chinche, and for the ones you leave behind.

    Like

  7. grace Avatar

    yes. exactly. she knew that it was from such sadness, such
    exhaustion. I think she felt those things herself, sadness,
    exhaustion. So she kept on. Knowing we would both just go.
    and she was right. We did. for a really long and Good time.

    Like

  8. grace Avatar

    for her Journey, and Us, who she leaves behind.

    Like

  9. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Oh, dear Chinche. I will think of her always. Now I have a picture of her in my mind, somehow believing this was the path to safety, and then her head on the pillow in trust and hope. Courageous indeed. Dear Grace . . .

    Like

  10. faun bonewits Avatar

    Richard left with Chinche
    it was the dark of the moon the time of planting
    a great time to be reborn
    a time of opportunity & growing spirit.
    she persisted till she could live with you
    you gave her a great life
    and you gave her good death.
    it was the best times for her.
    letting go is hard
    its why the going took so long
    but the knows you’ll be ok.

    Like

  11. grace Avatar

    a very Fine Fine being, this Chinche. A teacher.

    Like

  12. grace Avatar

    so we are tied by Leavings, his, just in time, her’s, taking time. time. it has its way.
    to Trust it. Trust. Yes and it’s Good.

    Like

  13. margaret johnson Avatar
    margaret johnson

    A big warm hug from me Grace, and rest in peace Chinche. O

    Like

  14. grace Avatar

    she does. It felt so good, to lay her into the Earth today. More than anytime before that i have given a living being into the Earth. I have come to find a deep deep love to it, the laying into Earth….
    Tay was surprised to see Chinche layed deep into the place that i had dug. She sat and watched. I’d brought Chinche in the wheel barrow from the house to out There and the North end of the Compost bed. Brought her in the red wool blanket that had been her dying thing. I pulled it from under her body, all bones,
    i was surprised that i wanted her naked. But i did. Wanted her naked in the winter earth.

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  15. Julie Avatar

    Amazing how the hole of her loss gets filled in so fast by these memories of yours. I know it was right, but its so hard when these dog friends of ours die.

    Like

  16. grace Avatar

    there is no filling. no filling of loss.
    All day…this Space that was her
    and now, night, even a larger Space
    Where IS she????
    Chinche?????
    Chinche?…..we call her, Tay and me

    Like

  17. grace Avatar

    her space will remain. it will never be filled.
    Chinche
    just her.

    Like

  18. deb lacativa Avatar

    You understand what’s happened. Tay and Sweetie stay all unknowing. She walks around aimlessly, sits and gives a small meow, a sound she’s never used before Voodoo died.
    How these small lives fill ours.

    Like

  19. grace Avatar

    we are at a Loss tonight

    Like

  20. elizabeth Avatar
    elizabeth

    A hug to you dear Grace, and peace to Chinche…

    Like

  21. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    tenderness, Grace. such a blessing to give her back to the earth. love to you and to Tay.

    Like

  22. handstories Avatar

    Chinche, she was right to trust you. love…for…to…around…you.

    Like

  23. Cindy from Georgia Avatar
    Cindy from Georgia

    Things happen the way they’re supposed to happen. This is a beautiful true story, Grace, and your telling has brought us all there lovingly with you tonight.

    Like

  24. Nancy Avatar

    Thinking of you and of Tay too as you move through these next days and nights. Rest well Chinche, trust well.

    Like

  25. ² Avatar
    ²

    read and understand it all
    present in your sorrow
    big hug heart to soul
    tay helps the healing he/she understand it
    you trust eachother
    because he know’s you and CHINCE
    beautyfull
    you did it well
    naked given back to the earth

    Like

  26. Dana Avatar

    Yes, the space left is never filled. Rest in peace, Chinche, with our thanks for being such a steadfast friend.

    Like

  27. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    Thank you for this story Grace, it gives more depth to who she was, is.It was always so nice to see little Chinche here and there in pictures, but now knowing her courage and her determination to become yours, gives us so much more. She will be remembered and she will be missed….sweet little Chinche. Sending healing love to you, Taz and Tay.The Earth will cradle her now.

    Like

  28. cynthia Avatar
    cynthia

    i am glad the sun came and gave you time to prepare her place..i am glad for that.
    gentle day and much love

    Like

  29. Deb G Avatar

    Courage is a good word, not about lack of fear but about persistence.
    Much love…

    Like

  30. Deb G Avatar

    Somehow trust became courage to me… Maybe because they work together. And I feel the courage in Chinche’s story…

    Like

  31. beth Avatar

    ((( Grace )))

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  32. Bev Avatar

    Dear Chinche she had a good life with You and Tay
    Hugs Grace, trust is right.

    Like

  33. dee Avatar

    so sorry, Grace. you trusted the process, yourself, and Chinche. And you trust us with your story. Thank you. I am remembering with gratitude when my corgi Jack was dying that you offered the same advice which you yourself followed… to trust. in particular, to trust the dog to let you know when it’s time. sweet little bed bug! rest in peace!

    Like

  34. yvette Avatar

    i wipe your tears because i know there are despite ……

    Like

  35. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    To have the love of another means so much. But to have their trust is everything.

    Like

  36. grace Forrest Avatar

    yes. tonight, Monday, a great sense of peace for Chinche.
    And Tay and i, well, we just Feel how it is now. Very
    different.

    Like

  37. grace Forrest Avatar

    we receive, Tay and I. We are very soft about it, for it

    Like

  38. grace Forrest Avatar

    yes…and she helped me be what she needed. There was never
    a single harsh word.

    Like

  39. grace Forrest Avatar

    true stories are the ones that teach us, i think. all of
    the truth….

    Like

  40. grace Forrest Avatar
  41. grace Forrest Avatar

    it was very very Right, the giving to the Earth. So much
    more than ever before when i “buried” ….this time it was
    a true Giving, a Strong Receiving. This i love.

    Like

  42. grace Forrest Avatar

    she was. so steadfast. each moment of her life.

    Like

  43. grace Forrest Avatar

    Love back, Nanette, love back…..

    Like

  44. grace Forrest Avatar

    as i have said, i felt that so strongly, that the Earth
    would take her, hold her, change her, help her Become.

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  45. grace Forrest Avatar

    it was a Gift, SUN, so much a gift. I was acutely grateful.
    and it also was, in its own way, a gentle day.

    Like

  46. grace Forrest Avatar

    i like this…not about lack of fear
    courage, not about lack of fear, but Courage. Yes.
    Thank you for this….

    Like

  47. grace Forrest Avatar

    and trust, yes. Courage, some fear, but more, Trust in
    the Going of Stuff

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  48. grace Forrest Avatar

    Trust is what we come to have over a LifeTime, isn’t it….

    Like

  49. grace Forrest Avatar

    this was hard because i was trusting what i thought i knew
    with her death. There were moments during the night,
    Saturday night, when i had fear, that i might be wrong,
    that it would be more Kind to have her “put down”, but
    the strongest sense that i remained trusting was that it
    was her own death just as it had been her own life. And
    i remembered how she walked into her life with Courage, took
    the Risk.

    Like

  50. grace Forrest Avatar

    Love to you yvette…we Love

    Like

  51. grace Forrest Avatar

    it is a Huge thing, isn’t it. Trust. I am thinking a Lot
    about that now. a LOT.

    Like

  52. Wendy @ the Late Start Studio Avatar

    Trust . . . both fragile and strong at the same time . . . it’s the life blood of relationships

    Like

  53. Bev Avatar

    Yes it can take a life time to learn. If we buy into fear and co-dependency (which can be so easy to do) we are lost. One thing I learned long ago was body testing, it gave me the opportunity to test decisions for myself. I had the choice to listen to myself and trust or go with the intellectual, fear, or co-dependent, because of course everything is a free choice. Now I can feel what to trust but at times it can help to back it up with the body testing. For me trusting is a gift but still sometimes can be difficult to do.

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  54. grace Avatar

    i love that you mention this here…Kinesiology….when the granddaughter was here it arose and after so long of my not thinking about it but it was suddenly There/Here again…
    and now you bring it forward again….
    THANK YOU FOR THIS

    Like

  55. Martine Bos Avatar

    Grace……Chinche………..let me carry a bit of the pain……..

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  56. grace Avatar

    and we only learn that over time

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  57. grace Avatar

    Suzanna…you know all this…

    Like

  58. grace Avatar

    yes, but carry it as love. it is strong and so deep rooted, but really, it’s a kind of love. So…to help me carry it, yes,
    but to see it as carrying Love is to go forward, how WE all
    need to, in Love. In service of Love.

    Like

  59. Bev Avatar

    Your are so welcome, I’m happy to see that you know this all ready.
    Learning Kinesiology was a release from my old life to new beginning, a new way of knowing so I could really live a full, happy life. I love life.

    Like

  60. saskia Avatar

    phew
    i am relieved for her as her suffering is over now, it is tough though for us as we remain behind

    Like

  61. grace Avatar

    i mostly think of the Dying One

    Like

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