Ribbons (Motif’s She Wore a Yellow Ribbon) was three years old when we brought her home, and her sensitive personality was completely opposite of Lil’s demanding playfulness. Both dogs played a large part in my emotional support after the loss of a son. You can read more in my memoir, Beyond the Visible Edge.
At first, I saw Ribbons as a timid dog because she spent so much time under our coffee table. If someone knocked on the door, she ran to the kitchen (Lil would have barked ferociously). I finally realized Ribbons was distressed after leaving her home with the dogs and people she had been raised with.
Once she adjusted, she didn’t seem timid; but I felt sorry for her because she never played with toys or seemed to have fun. She was very conscientious and tried hard to please. She watched me intently, perhaps for direction or approval. If she thought she had done wrong, she would hide under the coffee table.
The Dog that Walked with Me
Ribbons had been trained to do her business only in her own fenced yard, and retraining her to use our unfenced yard was a challenge. She held it way too long at first, even though I walked her in our yard many times each day. I finally took her to a nearby grassy area where other residents of our community walked their dogs.
Because of our community leash law, I had kept her leashed until that morning—when I let her loose. The results made me wonder: was she trained not to relieve herself while on a leash? Before heading home, I noticed a newly mowed pathway into an adjoining field. I knew there was a story behind that new pathway, and I was curious. I began to explore.
Ribbons became my trusted companion as I walked in that nearby secluded field for the next two years. As Ribbons and I walked the field, I felt God’s presence in the peaceful influence of nature. There in that field, I found comfort and healing for my loss. And as we headed for home one day, God helped me learn a valuable lesson on facing death. You can read the whole story in my memoir, Beyond the Visible Edge.
Memories of a Sweet, Loving, Obedient dog
Ribbons was our sweet, loving, obedient dog for more than five years. She often fell asleep beside me on the sofa, or she followed Russ wherever he went in the house. When outside, she never left our yard, even when not on a leash—except for once. During that initial retraining period, she ran for home when I yelled at her. I’ll share that story another time.
It was her ninth birthday on April 3, 2019, and that was the sad day we said goodbye to our second precious Boston, after three days of frequent seizures. The vet said she probably had a brain tumor. Now we have two urns on the desk and many bittersweet memories. And yes, we plan to someday bring home a third Boston. Check back for updates.
Read Part One: For the Love of Bostons – A Three-Part Story
For more about the Boston Terrier Breed
