Happy Ending

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Sadie knew something was happening, but she had no idea what was coming. I took two photos to show her waiting mood.

I was waiting, too, but I tried to keep a smile on my face. Son John $pencer packed his car carefully, preparing to follow his heart to Washington state, a continent away. Sadie obeyed the command to get in.

The trip was going well until there was car trouble in Sundance, Wyoming. A mechanic said he needed a new transmission, but there was none to be had there. That man talked with the mechanic who had worked on the car in North Carolina. Together, they decided draining the transmission fluid and replacing it might get the car to the coast. The first suggestion would have cost thousands of dollars, but the second cost hundreds. The happy ending is $’s arriving at his destination one week after leaving.

$ drove through light snow and treacherous ice without further incident. He commended on the cold – -30F (-34.4C). Sadie walked oddly, he said, really feeling the brutal chill to her paws. I imagined a cartoon dog walking on her toes, trying to skim over the surface without touching it. She is much happier now, resting in a warm house. $ is taking a break for a day and will begin job and house hunting in earnest.

I can smile freely again, knowing our son is where he wants to be. When family or friends leave our house, my heart is heavy. It’s almost like being physically sick for days or hours before, proportional to the time they’ve spent with us. When they leave and wishing won’t bring them back, I can resume normal living once more.

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Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

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44 thoughts on “Happy Ending”

  1. I’m glad they both made it to their destination, Ok, but they will be missed. It’s funny how dogs know when a change is coming. Those pictures of Sadie are precious.

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  3. How wonderful for John $ and Sadie. I suspect you will not be the only one missing them. It will seem strange not to see Sadie in your regular posts, but life is change if nothing else, at least for most of us. Wishing the best to all of you!

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  4. I feel the same way as you when my kids leave to go back home, but at least they aren’t states away! I will also miss Sadie in your posts! $ too!

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    1. I took umbrage at the way Husband and Mother paid for my tickets to visit my parents. He said he’d pay for my flight there, and she said she’d pay to send me home. Yes, they had a teasing tone, but there is truth in humor, you know.

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    1. Sadie belongs to Rose, $’s girlfriend. I like animals but had never lived with a dog in the house. Sadie was easy to live with. She loves people, so she’d stay near me when I was on the computer and sleep with me when I took a nap. She walked with us in the morning, too. I miss her.

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  9. Hi Anne. I feel the same way when my son and daughter-in-law leave after being here for dinner. And they only live 45 minutes drive away. In this time of families being scattered, I know how blessed I am that mine both live so near to me. In fact, my daughter lives above me in a shared house. I love the photos of your beautiful dog and I know that you will miss her when she is with your son.

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    1. I heard Sadie’s phantom footsteps for two days after she left. She belongs to $’s girlfriend Rose, and Rose will join them on Monday. I know Sadie will be wild with joy when they are reunited.

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  10. And I just found a hilarious post from you dated August 2020 when you drove your son stick shift car. I remember when I came home from three months in Sussex where the woman Tombe I was acting companion had an automatic car and my car at that time had a stick shift. I can’t tell you how many times I went halfway down the road with the car in first. Fan post!

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    1. I laughed at your switch back and forth from automatic to shift. I used to drive my mother-in-law to church between services when I drove a stick shift. If I used John’s automatic, I’d find my left foot dangling in the air looking for the clutch. Awkward!

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  11. Oh goodness! My heart started mourning with your sons’ departure. Thank God that he got there safe and sound This world is so much bigger than it used to be! I know that you are glad for your son-and missing him all at once. God bless you sweet Anne and invite Logan over promptly! love Michele.

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    1. Son said he was up early this morning job hunting and house hunting. He is hiking with Sadie now and will resume the hunt this afternoon. Sadie loves being in a house again, especially a house with a yard. I don’t know if that means it is enclosed or not. She loved running in our yard, but we had to watch that she didn’t run all around the neighborhood. Thanks for mourning with me.

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  12. You’ll miss Sadie for a long time, but animals are fairly resilient – Sadie will adjust to her new digs. Funny that $ moved to Washington state, when we have relatives trying to get out of Washington state, and California.

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  13. It is hard when they move away! 😥 When it got cold -10 or so) here, Max would walk to the end of the drive way and lay down. I learned not to allow him to talk me into a walk, only potty breaks!

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  14. Many people are drawn the PNW states. I’ve been to Seattle once and the vibe was different. I liked it. I hope your son and dog are happy. Maybe you’ll go visit?

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    1. We’d love to see where John settles, but that would be quite a trek. If we wanted to fly to see him, we’d have to go to Denmark first to see his older sister. She has been out of the country for years and would get more than her nose out of joint if we didn’t visit her first. Can’t say I blame her.

      Five years ago we were not too old to drive out west, although we didn’t get to the coast. Now we have so many medical appointments that it would be daunting to schedule a road trip.

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  15. They always know…funny how wingback chairs always seem to be favored.
    Washington is a lovely state – we know several who moved out there, enjoyed it, then returned., Who knows. Always good to have adventures when you are young and can overlook things.
    Both your kids would be thrilled for you to visit if you can. Who know – might happen!

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  17. I can well imagine you letting out a sigh of relief, knowing that he made it to the coast. Lots of luck to him, finding a home and a job! 🤞🤞🤞

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  18. Thank goodness $ made it to Washington with Sadie in tow in such awful driving conditions. Being a Winter weenie about driving, I’d have thrown up my hands in despair and asked Sadie to move over. Good luck to $ on landing a job and finding a house – the first part should be easier if employers are as starved for workers there as they are everywhere else.

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