Braveness
The Bravest Thing I've Ever Done
by Sally DeMasi
Braveness comes in many forms. It can be a bold defiant act confronting
fear which produces courage as I have done over the last years on my world solo
adventure travels. I’ve paddled down the Amazon and the rapids of Idaho, faced
wild animals in Africa and walked the drug infested streets of Third World
Countries. But, I think what I am proudest of, was an act that to others may
seem insignificant.
It was how I choose to say goodbye to my aging dog – straight
on, not allowing someone else do the hard stuff.
Tasha was my companion for thirteen years. She had been
though the best and the worst times of that period of my life. A rescue dog, I
choose this 3 month old Lab/Rottweiler/and who knows what other lineage, because
of her story and her actions. Her mom was homeless and wandered the streets
pregnant with 12 pups, giving birth when a kind woman realized her plight and
made a comfortable birth nest for her.
I stared at the box of puppies, she was the only one with straight
hair and harassing her sleeping brothers and sisters poised on top as she nipped
each in hopes they would romp with her
.
I fell in love at that moment with an alpha puppy who curled
up on my lap as we drove home – never expecting to have adopted one that day
and no provisions to welcome her home.
She had a definite effect on my life from the start. I did
crazy things like deciding to work less managing a part-time schedule – just to
stay home with my doggie. I declined social engagements just to hurry home to
be with her after leaving the pup for my work day. I rejected my fanatical
technical reading required to “get ahead” in my position. I even stopped all my
shopping expeditions that at one time seemed so important, to be with my Tasha.
I had found a level plane ignored in the past.
Instead, I delved into insane pursuits. I bought an old
beat-up Mazda ’84 truck. I hated trucks. It was bashed up, filthy inside and
out with paint chipping, a hole where the radio had been cut out and ignition
switch torn from the dashboard. But, I knew Tasha would grow (oh yes, to a
surprising 100 pounds) and my two seat sports car wouldn’t work much longer for
the new us.