The Pretty Little Penny: July 2014

There are some things in life that simply amaze you

Magic tricks, Experiences, Miracles, Love ... etc.

But this story is about a dog, not just any dog.. My dog

Aspen

Rewind to Christmas Morning 12 years ago. I remember telling my sisters I just KNEW "Santa" was going to bring me a puppy that year, they would of course roll their eyes and say there was no way dad would let me get a dog, but something in me just knew!

I remember that day like it was yesterday, we had all finished opening our gifts and my dad turned to me and asked,

"Jess, did you hear that?"

I looked at him with wide eyes and said.. "no, what!?"

"I think its coming from the closet!" , he said.

I ran as fast as my feet could carry me and swung the closet door open.

the moment I opened the door I looked down, and saw her, Aspen.

I dropped to my knees and she ran right into my arms as I screamed with excitement.

I was the happiest 12 year old that Christmas morning.

She immediately became my best friend, and just like any other puppy .. the biggest responsibility.

throughout the years Aspen became quite the escape artist, terror of the neighborhood, and frequent visitor of Bountiful Ridge Golf course.

In result we put a chip in her shoulder so that if we ever lost her we would be able to find her or in return she'd "find us."

I honestly believe the saying that

"dogs are a mans best friend"

Or in my case

"a girls best friend"

She had been through some of the hardest times with me, the death of my mother, divorce, moves...

I really don't know what I would have done without her for the nine years we had,

the time came to where I was unable to keep her in the apartment I was living in, I was heart broken but determined to find the perfect owner for her~~, and I thought I did.~~

I found a woman who had recently been divorced and had two kids, I thought It was everything that Aspen deserved, a home, kids to play with, and most importantly someone who loved her.

There were times I went to visit Aspen, she seemed so happy and that's all I could ask for!

The woman who had Aspen would frequently send me pictures and updates of her. When I gave Aspen away it was in agreement that we would have "joint custody" of Aspen, if I wanted to take her for the day or on trips with me I could!

So....

About two years ago, I had messaged Aspens new family and had asked if it would be okay if I took Aspen for the weekend up to our family cabin in Wyoming, Aspens favorite place to be.

I waited a few days and didn't hear back from her, so I messaged her again.. about an hour later I got a very detailed text (I'll spare you the gory details she shared) describing that Aspen had been hit by a car and didn't make it. I was heart broken, knowing that she had (how she described it) suffered.

Life quickly caught up with me: I got remarried, had Beckham, bought a house,

In the mix of everything we attempted to have a different dog.. but that of course lasted a week.

Aspen would often come up in conversation, like how she would lick you to death every time you saw her, how she'd be your constant shadow not matter what, or how she would run out on soccer fields during games, even how when you would take her for walks, you were the one getting the walk!

... fact of the matter was, that Aspen left a mark in all of our hearts. No matter how crazy of a dog she was.

We "Loved" her!

......................

Today, July 21st

I had been doing house work all morning, and was dying to get my garden started for the year, so I called my dad (the go to guy for EVERYTHING) and asked if he had a garden tiller I could borrow, he said:" no but I'll ask around. "

I continued my day, and got a call from my dad later in the evening.

I quickly ignored his call and messaged him saying "hey I'm putting Beckham down for a nap, Whats up!?"

He quickly responded, "Okay, call me back ASAP I have a really big surprise for you!"

So I of course immediately thought that he had found a tiller I could borrow from someone.. because that's really something to be excited about... ~~(not really)~~

So I put Beckham down, and walked outside to call him back.

He answered the call with a quick: "Hello? Hello!?"

"ya dad, I'm here. What's going on?"

then in comes My mother Aly on the line as well, "Uh hello?"

How my dad figured out 3 way calling is beyond me .. that genius ;)

By this point I was extremely confused

ME: "What's going on dad?" are you okay?"

DAD: " Are you both sitting down?"

ALY: "Yes"

ME: "Yes!"... no, I was standing in my garage.

DAD: "So, I got a call.. and the woman on the other line said " I have your dog!"

confused: my dad asked "Bella?" (my families current dog) WOMAN: "No, she is a Yellow Lab named Aspen."

At this point tears had started to well up in my eyes, I paused him and said: "dad, is this some sort of joke, you know Aspen passed away over a year ago!"

DAD: "That's what I told the lady, and she told me she was "very much alive!" , Jess they found the chip in Aspens shoulder and tracked my information down. Aspen is alive and you can go pick her up in Clearfield!"

ME: "Crap, I should have sat down! How is this possible!? Dad! Dad! Dad! Are you Kidding me right now?!?

ALY: "WHHHHHAAATTTT?"

I was overcome with so many emotions, to the point where I was shaking.

I grabbed onto the door frame and just cried, my best friend of 11 years had basically returned from the dead.

We ended the conversation and I of course dropped everything I was doing, packed up Beckham, and picked up my brother Jared and headed for Clearfield. The entire way there I kept asking my brother, "What if she doesn't remember me!?"

We pulled into the driveway of the home Aspen had been staying, I got out so fast I didn't even shut my car door. I knocked on the door and a younger woman answered, and let me in.

She had told me that Aspen was very old and "lazy", but in very great condition ~~(except she was fat)~~

I looked across the room over to the kitchen and there she was laying under the kitchen table.

My jaw dropped and just like the first day I got her,

I fell to my knees and screamed with tears in my eyes, I called her name: "Aspen, Aspen, come here girl!"

she jumped up and literally ran into my arms, licking the tears away from my face.

The young girl who had been taking care of her said: "That right there was the most active, I've ever seen that dog!" "She knows exactly who you are!"