Reader Friday-Goodbye To A Friend

I hope a little indulgence is in order on The Killzone today.

6/18/2014-1/14/2025 . . . Play hard, sweet Hoka

We lost a good friend on Tuesday, January 14th. Her name was Hoka, the smartest German shepherd in the universe. It happened quickly. The vet thinks it was a stroke. She would have been eleven in June, and we’d kept company with her for nine years and one month.

We’ve had other dogs, but none as human as Hoka.

A little history: She was rescued from the local shelter by our daughter, who was able to be her mom for three months. When she moved to San Diego, she couldn’t take Hoka with her. She was named after Jessica’s favorite running/hiking shoe, and was her companion on the trails.

Jessica brought her to us to get acquainted, and it was love at first sight. When she came to live with us she was about a year and a half old, give or take. It was like a toddler moving in with gramma and grampa.

Let the games begin!

She had two speeds . . . fast and stop. She liked to chase cars along our rural dirt road—from inside our fence line, of course. Our neighbor once clocked her at 32 mph.

She had a human vocabulary of about twenty or so words and phrases, she was scared of gunfire, loved harassing our neighbors’ cats and cows from across the fence, and was always ready to jump in the Jeep and go to town with us. And, believe it or not, she could tell time. She knew when it was bedtime, and she knew–at 7am every morning–it was time to trek over to the west side of our property to chase away any of the neighbor’s cats who dared stray over our fence.

We walk the orchards around us every day and she went with us. The last few days, I’ve even taken pictures of her paw prints around our property and out in the orchards.

And my Dad. We took her three times a week to see him, and he loved her as much as we do. Many of the other residents in his facility  insisted on petting her. She was everybody’s dog, and she knew it.

There’s not a square inch of our house and five acres that her paws did not touch. She watched out for us as much as we took care of her. Every part of our daily schedule–now ten days without her–included her.

First, we learned to navigate life with Hoka; now we must learn to steer ourselves without her.

It’s going to be a long journey before we can let her lie without tears, but I know she’s getting acquainted with the other three dogs we’ve buried.

Hoka, keep running. We’ll come and play with you some day.

 

* * *

 

Thank you, TKZers, for listening to me and understanding why I had to write this post. Many of you have shared your pets with us, so I know you “get it”.

 

Your comments and memories are most welcome.

 

 

This entry was posted in #ReaderFriday, Memories, pet stories, Writing and tagged by Deb Gorman. Bookmark the permalink.

About Deb Gorman

Deb Gorman is an author, blogger, and speaker who escaped from a 9-5 job in the medical field to pursue what she really loves—words, words, and more words. A lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, she writes fiction and non-fiction in between long walks through orchard country with her husband, Alan, and playing with their German Shepherd, Hoka. You can catch up with Deb on her website, debggorman.com, and email her at debster145@gmail.com

39 thoughts on “Reader Friday-Goodbye To A Friend

  1. So sorry, Deb. We’re down to one dog now and he’s 16. We are so blessed to have exceptional dogs in our lives. It’s so hard when they move on without us. Hugs and ❤️.

    • Good morning, Sharon. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words.

      We were talking yesterday about Hoka and decided it’s a little like losing an arm. She’s been attached to us for a long time.

      Have a good day…

  2. Deb, I’m so, so sorry for the loss of your beautiful Hoka. Dogs and horses are my favorite creatures on earth. It’s so hard to lose them. But now she is up there in doggie heaven playing with Bob Barker, Cody, Aztec, and other dogs of mine and many others we’ve all cherished over the years.

    In addition to all the wonderful traits of Hoka that you’ve mentioned here, she also has the distinction of being a virtual pet therapist, because it has brought me pure joy every time you’ve ever shared a picture of her. What a beautiful, awesome dog!

    • Morning, Brenda!

      I’m so glad she made you smile! I can almost see her zooming around with your dogs, seeing who can run faster. She was exhilarating to watch for sure.

      Thank you for taking a small chunk of our grief and transforming it into joy. Have a good day!

  3. Oh Deb, you’ve talked about Hoka so often I felt as if I knew her. Pets tear a hole out of your heart when they leave.

    Our beautiful Weimaraner left us 50 years ago but she still makes us smile and laugh through memories. I hope your pain eases soon and your good memories take over.

    Big hugs.

    • Hi Debbie!

      We decided we must take this one day at a time, and focus on what she brought to us. Her last day with us was traumatic for us and we’re trying to remember that her struggle is over. And to reassure ourselves that we gave her a good life, just as much as she gave us a wonderful nine years.

      Thanks you for your kind words. Have a good weekend!

  4. My most sincere condolences, Deb. Why is it the unexpected friendships that hit the hardest at parting?
    Hoka’s memory runs free in all of us now. May you find inspiration in your love for her.

    • Good morning, Cyn.

      Hoka’s memory runs free in all of us now. I really, really love that! Thank you. She never met a human she didn’t like, that’s for sure.

      Have a great day!

  5. So very sorry Deb. My sister always had German Shepherds and I have always had Border Collies. They all crawl into your heart and they never leave. So many wonderful memories…. hold those close.

    • Thank you, Fran.

      Hoka remade us from the inside out. Our other dogs, Oreo the black lab, Dok-dogi (“Smart dog” in Korean) the malamute, and Bear the Samoyed-Chou mix were special to us, but Hoka changed us. We have been looking at the hundreds of pictures we took over the years, and it’s helping us remember how happy she was (and we were) when she shared our space. It’s almost like, instead of emptiness in every room and acre, she’s now everywhere we look.

      Have a good day!

  6. I’m so sorry for your loss. Both of my kids are big dog lovers (and I do mean big. Nicholas has two pit bull mixes that are gentle giants and Erin has 2 Australian shepherds and 2 labs plus 2 cats and 3 kids!) I’ve watched how my kids treat their dogs like kids and the dogs treat them like parents . . . . it brings joy to both.) I know your memories, however bittersweet, will bring you joy always.

    • Good morning, Kelly.

      Memories are like eternal movies in the mind. I hope we will not forget them. She was truly a joyful dog, and she spread that joy to so many.

      Thanks for stopping by, and kudos to your kids for making space in their lives for animals and giving them good lives. It’s never wasted time, is it?

  7. I’m so sorry, Deb. Losing a beloved pet is so hard. You gave Hoka a very good home. I hope all the wonderful memories you have of her comfort you and your family.

    • Good morning, Dale.

      Thank you for your kind words. Remembering her and how hard she played is indeed helping us.

      Have a great day, my friend!

    • I meant to add losing our beloved Mittens last March, at the ripe old age of 17 1/2, left a large cat shaped hole in our hearts. He and his brother Simba were BIG cats–at one point Mittens weighed 18 lbs while Simba was 23 pounds. Simba passed in 2019 but Mittens soldiered on, and continued to fill our house with his presence for nearly five more years.

      • …left a large cat shaped hole in our hearts.

        What a beautiful way to say it, Dale! We have a Hoka-shaped hole in our hearts that now we will fill up with memories.

        And wow! A 23 pound cat! Practically a cougar… 🙂

  8. Deb, I’m sorry about Hoka. Our best cat ever died about 8 years ago and I still miss him badly. The loss of a pet can leave such a hole in one’s life, and heart.

    • Hi Janet. I’ve had cats before, too, and they leave a dent in your life for sure. I had a long-haired black and white tabby named Sylvester (because he looked just like…!), and when he died it was hard.

      Sometimes I wish our pets could just live as long as we do.

      Thank you for dropping by and your comforting words.

  9. So sorry for your loss. It’s no small thing for us to lose our pets. They are family, too, and add a great deal to our lives. May you know God’s peace and comfort in this time.

    • Good morning, Donna…thanks for stopping by this morning.

      In addition to pets bringing joy and smiles to us, they teach us. Hoka taught us, in many ways, to be kids again and not to act too grown up. The way she could dive under her favorite bush in our yard and dig in a frenzy, throwing up dirt over our shoes was a delight to behold. We never had the heart to stop her. The hole she kept working on under that bush will never be covered up in our lifetime. 🙂

  10. I’m so sorry for your loss, Deb. Hoka is as much a part of TKZ as the rest of us, and I’m grateful we got to know her.

    Just like you were fortunate to have such a wonderful friend in a pet, Hoka was fortunate to have you as her master.

    Take care.

    • Hi Kay!

      Thank you for your kind words. Although, just between you, me, and the gatepost…I don’t think she would call me her master. 🙂 In her mind, she was always the boss! You could tell by the way she herded us everywhere.

      Have a great day!

    • Good morning, Lou!

      May she frolic in the Happy Hunting Grounds. I love, love, love that image in my mind! I think that’s exactly what she’s doing.

      Thanks for stopping by and adding to the comfort in my soul. 🙂

    • Thanks, Elaine.

      You’re so right. The trick is (that I have to learn yet) to fill the hole with sweet memories.

      Thanks for stopping by! ❤️

  11. I’m so sorry, Deb. The hole they leave is immeasurable. I do know–all too recently–how you feel. Adopted my girl Elf when she was 5, and she was a skittish, frightened thing. (with reason) Took a couple of months for her to trust me, but within a year she’d truly come out of her shell. She was the perfect writer’s companion, content to hang out in my office while I worked, because she knew the rest of the day was hers. She was the reason I’ve written as many books as I did in the ten years I had her.

    But it wasn’t until she wasn’t here that I realized just how much my life had been structured around her presence. If I wasn’t headed up to the office soon enough, she’d be on the landing giving me the side eye, as in “Hurry up!” I had to finish this chapter because she was going to need to go out. Had to get through this edit so we could go on our walk. Later on, I needed to be done with this or that by noon because she’d need her meds. Now I feel like a building that’s tilting to one side because a crucial support structure is gone.

    I’ve always said that with all the things they can breed for, skills, size, temperament, color, I wish there was a way to breed for a 25 year life span!

    Hugs, Deb.

    • Thank you, Justine. Totally agree about the life span.

      Hoka was a true herding dog…when we walked with her, she always wanted us to go faster–unless, of course, we crossed a smell she just had to investigate!

      Have a good weekend!

    • Hi Linda…

      Thank you for your comforting words. Hoka was indeed special. Memories of her will be healing for sure.

      Have a good weekend. ☺️

  12. Just a note of appreciation to all who read Hoka’s story…and all who commented.

    Your words brought a measure of peace to this emotionally-charged time for my husband and I, and to Hoka’s extended family.

    Thank you again.

    💕💕💕

  13. It’s so hard to lose a pet..they are such a big part of the family. I lost a kitty to a stroke and it’s not easy to deal with the pain and suffering. Will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

    • Hey Patricia, thanks for stopping by.

      I’m sorry to hear about your kitty. That must’ve been hard to watch and deal with. Cats are just as loyal as dogs in their own way, and they depend on us just as much.

      Thank you again, and have a good weekend.

  14. I’m so sorry for your loss of your baby. I’m sitting here looking at my old dog, aware she isn’t going to be around much longer. She is at least 13 years old, but as a rescue, no one knew how old she was when we adopted her. We adopted a year old puppy to ease her passing, but I don’t believe it will do much since Lupita has been our Grand Dame for way too long.

    • Hi Barbara…thank you for joining our memory banks today, and for your kind words.

      I hope your puppy surprises you with comfort and joy, and that Lupita will be around for yet awhile.

      Have a good weekend!

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