Toby's Eyes...

We laugh at what excites emotion in us most, be it good or bad. We remember the experiences or events that have marked our minds the most: pets, childhood, poverty, parents, teachers, etc. In fact, funny is what saddens us the most. Reversed sadness. -Copied- That simple little sentence struck a remembrance cord with me this morning that made a soft laugh tumble out of my heart. Today my sister Patsy posted a comment by Billy Graham that made me smile and sent a rush of happiness throughout. "God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there - I believe he'll be there." Yes..dogs can 'excite that emotion' in us that can turn our sadness into a hearty laugh. Toby did that for me and still does. Sixty plus years later I can still tear up at the thought of the time spent with that mongrel dog. Toby was nothing to look at...mostly a small brownish mixed breed with mangled coat and eyes that could melt the buttons off a snowman! It's the eyes I remember most. My mom told and retold the story of Toby saving me from an early death at age 3. Being as headstrong then as I am now, I took it into my head to walk to the little grocery store down the lane from our home. A major highway separated me from that desire. I remember Toby kept bumping into my legs as we approached the roadway, continuously looking up at me with I now imagine, pleading in his eyes. He would not let me cross. I gave up. Mom came frantically running down the dirt road, screaming, with terror in her eyes. Mom was not a hugger....she hugged me! Mom wasn't much of a dog lover...she changed her mind that day. Toby became a hero in our home that day. But, I suspect he was more of a hero to me than to the others. School days took my older brother and sister away, which left Toby and I to spend long days roaming the open fields, coercing my quiet friend Lanny to come out and play and generally doing a whole lot of nothing. Toby never left my side. Whether we made up games, built forts, played tag or simply lay on trampled down weeds to watch the clouds go by, Toby was there, ever the protector, always with watchful eyes. Sometimes I would just sit and stare into his eyes, whispering words that I truly believed he could understand. After all, he would blink those eyes, but never turn them away as if in deep understanding of my whispered words. He was my companion, my constant, my playmate...my heart. I don't like to think of the day Toby died. Even now I am tearing up at the remembrance of it. How could one, homely, mongrel, matted dog bring so much happiness to my life and leave such a whole in my heart. I smile because he did, I cry because, well,...just because.