Yoda

​The light of my life, my earth angel.  Abandoned in a cardboard box at a school in Texas, she found her way to live with my Mom.  Mom was looking for a dog, since her dog, Heidi, had passed away a year before.  Her veterinarian called and said they found a dog abandoned at a school; would she be interested[?].  Mom decided to take the young boy who lived across the street to go see her.  As Mom puts it, she didn’t fall in love and felt she had to take YODA because she didn’t want to disappoint her young neighbor.  Not to mention, the boy from across the street had already named her YODA – from Star Wars.  Years later he would get a dog and name him Luke Skywalker.  
 
That same year, Mom called me in LA to say she needed help.  Didn’t really say why…just that she needed me.  Dropped all I was doing, packed up my car and drove to Austin.  When she told me about YODA I vowed I would not like her because the death of Heidi was so hard…I just couldn’t put love toward another dog, it hurt too much.  
 
As soon as I met her, I was in deep love.  She melted my hardened heart and I was in for the long run.  And she bonded to me too.  The reason mom wanted me with her, she wanted to downsize and sell her home for something smaller.  
 
We found her a new small home and moved everything in. Once she was settled and good to go, it was time to move back to Los Angeles.  As I was loading the car, Mom came in and asked if I was going to take YODA back to LA with me.  I said I hadn’t planned on it [when deep in my heart, I really wanted to] …apparently, she did…YODA had jumped up into the driver seat and was ready to go to LA.  
 
Mom was happy to let me have her…and so the adventures would begin.  [A couple months later, mom would get a new dog…a schnauzer named Barney]
 
YODA went with me everywhere, even to work.  She would travel to the other offices and visit my co-workers and was often hard to find.  She was in heaven.  When I had to leave that job, the person taking over bought a toy Chihuahua and placed it in the inner window facing the offices so she wouldn’t be missed.  
 
Yoda is a natural healer.  She greets everyone happily and gives her loving energy freely.  It was especially inspiring to see how she reacted to homeless people in LA.  Their faces would light up when they saw her...and she returned the respect with big tail wags and a non-judgement spirit.  Once we were sitting at a stop light and a homeless person walked by the car door, glanced at Yoda and kept on walking.  Yoda ran up to the window, stuck her head out and watched him walk away.  I watched him in the rear-view mirror and saw once he passed the back of my car, he stopped, turned, pointed to his eyes, then pointed at Yoda and made the heart symbol with his hands…as if to say, I see your heart.  It was such a beautiful sincere moment I often recall when I need my own heart re-boot.
 
Flash forward to now, Yoda is [I think] 13ish years old.  Her hearing is gone and the clouds are beginning to appear in her eyes.  She is a bit slower and needs more attention when jumping up/off chairs, steps, and couches.  Nonetheless, she is living her best life as a ranch dog chasing the barn cats, barking at horses and donkey’s keeping them in line.  She loves living here and still keeps up on our mile long morning country road walks.  She is brave, courageous, smart, and sweet…I want to be her when I grow up. 
 
The love I have for her is beyond measure, she is a brilliant role model and a wonderful teacher.  Her attitude is to be happy, no matter what is going on around her.  Except if her brother takes her treat, then the gloves are off.  She has saved my soul on more occasions I care to admit.  When “they” say…your dog is your mirror…I am happy to have her reflection.  
 
Every day is a blessing with this little being…I cherish all I can get with her.  She was definitely meant to be with me, and I am grateful everyday for all she has given me.  There are some who don't believe animals have souls, I am not one of them.  It has been my experience each animal has a soul and a purpose - and if you are open enough to see...you might have one of the best experiences of your life.