“So softly, so close to me You're surrounding me so beautifully”
I said it before and I’ll say it again Nina was a super special Akita but I am a little embarrassed to admit that the first time we met her I was a little jealous. It was obvious she preferred Larry to me and I had been the chosen one for our other Akitas. So yeah, I was a little hurt. But I saw how she was with Larry and knew we needed to get her out of the crate she was spending most of her day in and in a home with a yard. There was just one thing we needed to do first, have her meet the boys.
So, we scheduled another visit with her and this time we took the boys with us. We were waiting in an open area outside for them to bring her to us. When she saw me she looked happy, when she saw Larry, she started wagging her tail and when she met Connor there was no aggression what so ever. Then she met Gabriel and as soon as she sniffed his pant leg she laid down at his feet and rolled over to expose her belly for a belly rub, which is the ultimate sign of submission. That was it. We took the boys back home, ran to the pet store to get food, treats and toys then went back to pick her up and take her home as a foster. That didn’t last long because we all knew when we brought her home that she was forever going to be a part of our family. And she was.
Based on the scope of this project, Shannon and I try to carve some time out on the weekends to look at upcoming life events, which songs we have already used and which songs are still on our master list to choose from. We've been pretty good at staying ahead of the game. But not this one. This one has literally been decided upon within the past 72 hours.
It's not that we didn't have several choices, but in all honesty it's probably mostly my fault - in avoiding thinking about it. I truly am Mr. Bojangles. That's where your support team comes in at the final moment because she can see that you're struggling and says "What about Lullabye?"
In that moment it all clicked into place and a feeling of "this is exactly right" came over me. Now I just need to struggle and push through this write-up. "When you're going through hell, keep going."
Concrete Blonde saves the day once again.
When we rescued a scared, frail, abused Akita this is essentially what we were doing - singing her a Lullabye. Telling her that everything is ok now, that she doesn't have to worry about anything for the rest of her life. That between the four of us she will always have someone present to shower her with love.
Lullabye Concrete Blonde
When the sky has fallen Like a blanket on your shoulder And the moon is like a mother Looking over you forever
And the dawn is so familiar You were meant to be together Like a fog around a mountain Forever
So softly, so sweetly Surrounding you completely Sing you a lullabye, a lullabye to you Lullabye, a lullabye to you
When your breathing is the wind And your crying is the rain Well I know you will remember Because the music is forever
The living of a lover And the loving of another Like a sister and a brother Like a father and a mother
So softly, so sweetly Surrounding you completely Sing you a lullabye, a lullabye to you Lullabye, a lullabye to you
When the sky has fallen Like a blanket on your shoulder And the moon is like a mother Looking over you forever
And the dawn is so familiar You were meant to be together Like a fog around a mountain Forever
So softly, so close to me You're surrounding me so beautifully Lullabye, a lullabye to you Lullabye, a lullabye to you Lullabye, a lullabye to you
Ghost of a Chance 