By Richard Mabey Jr.
Sometimes, it’s hard for me to believe that it was only about a year and half that I had a rather successful dog walking business, in my neighborhood. Altogether, I had about 20 clients. When I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, back in December of 2023, my Cardiologist highly recommended that I give up my little business. On busy days, I was walking a good five or six miles a day, taking the little pups for their walks.
Lately, I find myself thinking, more and more, about the dogs who have touched my heart and life. Sadly, some have passed away. Some of their mommies and daddies have moved away, and I know I will never see those little dogs ever again. During my morning devotional time, after I’ve read a few pages of the Holy Bible, I pray for the dogs to whom I looked upon as friends.
And lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Little Snowball. She was a little pupper, all white in color. A most happy dog. A bit high strung, but for some reason, she would calm down whenever I would take care of her.
Little Snowball’s daddy and mommy were Ted and Jean. They were both in their early eighties. They lived on the next street over from me. They would frequently drive out to a little town in North Carolina to visit with their daughter and son-in-law, for about a week at a time. They were very kind people, and I would stay at their home and take care of Little Snowball, while they were away. I think that Ted had a very good pension, because they would always pay me very well for my time of taking care of Little Snowball.
In June of 2023, Ted went Home to be with the Lord. He had, had a heart attack. It was only a few days after Ted passed away that Jean’s daughter helped her mother pack up her stuff. They had a big garage sale. I bought one of Ted’s books, Ernest Hemingway’s first novel, “The Sun Also Rises.” I cherish it.
Right after they had their big garage sale, Jean put the house up for sale and moved to North Carolina to live with her daughter. It was very, very sad to say goodbye to Little Snowball. For I knew, in my heart of hearts, I would never see that adorable little puppy ever again. Sometimes life just isn’t fair.
About a week after Jean moved away, I received an email from her. She told me that she and Little Snowball were doing well. And, that they had plans to visit Mount Airy, the real Mayberry. I had often talked about the real Mayberry with Ted and Jean. They had never visited there at all.
I wrote Jean back and told her that I was happy that she and Little Snowball were happy in North Carolina. I made a little joke to Jean that she needed to be careful driving in North Carolina, that there was a nervous Deputy Sheriff (namely Barney Fife) there that had given his own mother a speeding ticket.
Sadly, I never heard from Jean again. I was going to write her again, but thought that it was best not to push on the door.
The old adage, when one door closes, another one opens, is all so very true. I now am focused on educating as many people as I can possibly reach, about the detailed intricacies of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Just last week, my General Practitioner complimented me that she thought I probably knew more about HCM than most Primary Physicians know. I told her that I read and study, the latest cutting-edge trials of HCM, anywhere from an hour to three hours a day. HCM is the single most difficult heart disease to diagnose. It is a silent killer.
Hold dear to your Divine Purpose. Be true to the calling that God has placed in your heart. Falter not. Be not distracted by the nay slayers. Hold a love for all living things, deep within the chambers of your heart. Never abandon your dreams. Never give up! Never, ever surrender! For with God, all things are possible.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.