I can’t believe it has been 3 years. I remember it all like it happened yesterday.
Nothing could have prepared me, or my heart, that day for the love that was about to blossom and the joy that was going to come to my life.
Not a single day in the last 3 years has gone by that I haven’t looked at Noodle and simply smiled. The way he looks at me…the trust he places in me….the way he makes me feel so needed. It makes my heart swell. It makes my decision to not have children okay because he fills that void in so many ways. I may not know exactly what it is like to have a human child but I know what it is to wake up in the middle of the night because my boy is sick or because he had a nightmare and is howling/shaking in his sleep. I know what it is to worry beyond reason when he doesn’t act like himself. I drive myself crazy making sure his quality of life is the best it can be. Ask my husband how many hours I have researched dog food (quality, calories, content), dog anxiety, causes of itching, etc. I would give everything I have for my animals. Why? Because the unconditional love, joy, happiness, and trust that exists between them and me is priceless.
Noodle had no reason to trust me or any other human but he did. He is NEVER leery of humans. His past is his past and he wastes no time living in it. We could all learn something from him.
Most people don’t understand my love for my animals. That’s okay. I no longer expect them to. I’m often told that I’m not okay in the head or that I’m flat out insane. My animals, short of my immediate family and my best friend, have been the only constant in my life. Completely non-judgmental and trustworthy. So call me crazy if you will but at the end of the day, I know it’s not crazy to devote your heart to a being that loves unconditionally.
To my Noodle: I love you, little man. I thank God every single day for making you follow me to Grandpa’s and for Dad convincing me to bring you home. Happy Noodle Day!
The Adventures of Noodle 
Nice one Samantha! You and I both know that there are many people out there (thank goodness) that will be able to totally relate. Ray’s heartworm treatment program cost over $3500.00 and I know that a number of people thought that we were insane. This was further aggravated by the fact that there was no guarantee that Ray would even survive the treatment. Our perspective, like yours, was that he at least deserved a chance at a life where he is loved and cared for. Any regrets? Of course not! 🙂 Colin.
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No regrets! Actually one: that I even contemplated taking him to the SPCA the day I found him. I can’t imagine his life being cut short because of that. He has so much to offer!
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Hi Samantha – I am in the process of writing a book about Ray and the following is an extract. I was in the fenced compound with Ray at the Humane Society:
On one occasion however, he did something totally unexpected. He was checking out the perimeter fence as was his habit when he suddenly stopped and just looked straight at me. As I was squatting with my back against the fence (there were no seats around and standing was getting uncomfortable) our eyes would have been at around the same level. He then started walking directly towards me. My thoughts were rather confused because while his approach seemed rather ominous, I could not rationalise why he would suddenly be aggressive. Based on blind faith that this dog would not hurt me without some reason, and as I had not (knowingly) given him such reason, I stayed in my squat position and watched him come closer and closer until he stopped literally inches from my face and looked straight at me. I recall reading somewhere that “the eyes are the windows to the soul”. If that statement is correct, then our souls connected for a brief moment and then he gently reached forward and touched his nose to mine, turned, and walked away. When I took him back to the OMHS staff I related the experience and asked if I should have been concerned. Their response was quite an emotional “Oh no! He is telling you that he wants to be friends with you. That is so nice.” This incident endeared Ray to me!
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For some reason, it’s not letting me comment directly on your excerpt. That experience you had with Ray is simply beautiful. Proof of why the two of you were meant for each other. I can’t wait until you publish your story! I’ll be one of the first to purchase it 🙂
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I totally feel that feeling! When a thing is meant to be, it’s meant to be. Noodle in your family was meant to be! For me, Cupcake was ALL WRONG – possibly the “wrongest” dog at the rescue event. But here she is. Perfect. Meant to be. Happy Noodle Day!
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Noodle was everything I DIDN’T want in a dog. My husband and I had been talking about getting a dog from the pound after Christmas. You know, a Christmas reject. I had criteria though: not a male, short hair, no grooming required other than the normal bathing, no coarse coats, and I believe no white hair was one of the criteria as well. Well, Noodle was all of the above! That’s why I resisted keeping him at first. I guess it’s true that opposites attract 😉
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Noodle? Cupcake? Ray? ……………….. What do they all have in common? Perhaps none of them were what the eventual owners had in mind!!!!!!!!!!
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Other than Mya, my mini dachshund, NONE of my animals were what I had in mind. Mya was pre-boycott of breeders and I picked her out of a litter at a pet store. She’s also the most unhealthy of ALL of my animals 😦
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I had to smile at “wrongest” dog! If you have read our About page, you will understand!
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Not crazy at all! It warms my heart to know that there are people out there who have such love for animals. I have the highest respect for you! I’m so glad you and Noodle found each other! 🙂
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Thank you, Phoebe! I can no longer imagine living life without him. It would be quite dull to say the least 🙂
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What an outstandingly beautiful testimonial of love Samantha. My husband and I, now both in our sixties, loved and lived with a variety of pets and our lives have been so much the richer for it. My husband suffers from severe backache and has to make use of crutches. It is such a heart warming site to see him in the garden with his little shadow and “bodyguard”, that small little dog with a heart as big as mountain and so full of love for his Favorite Human. We wish you, your husband and Noodle all of the best.
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It is truly amazing what the love for and from an animal can do for a person.My life would truly be empty without animals in it.
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