Basketball

      The Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA, my team, are leading the league at 22-6. Until today there were without their superstar. Napheesa Collier, had surgery on both ankles in the offseason. The team has thrived because of a rookie point guard, Oliva Miles and the play of two veterans, Natasha Howard and Kayla McBride.

    Today Phee (Collier) returned to play for the first time. She had 24 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes of play. The Lynx beat Los Angeles Sparks by 10 points.

   It's now mid-point of the season. The All Star game is in Chicago on July 25. The Lynx have two starters, Olivia Miles and Natisha Howard and, Courtney Young is also participating. Last year Phee was the most valuable player of the event.

Takk for alt,

Al

 

Napheesa Collier

Eerie!

            Living alone now has created an experience best described as 'eerie'. When completing a task what comes next feels strange,  like, "now, what do I do?"  It's hard to explain. The best I can make of it is, with Kaia present I often went from doing a thing alone to doing something with her. It's an empty house with just one old guy rattling around in it.

         In the field this morning I saw several monarchs. There were many milkweeds in the area. During WW II, our entire country school, about twelve students, were excused to pick milkweed pods. We were taken to the teacher's farm a couple of miles away. There was some low ground of several acres that was solid milkweed. The teacher's father had a team of horses hooked to an empty wagon. It didn't take long to fill the wagon with pods. They were used to fill flotation devices on ships. How they got from the farm to the packing areas I never thought about. Likely they were shipped by train. "Better than school" was my main  impression.

Takk for alt,

Al

Milkweed pickers at a later date.

Day 3!

       Days after major events often get counted. So, in that spirit...this is the third day since Kaia died. The grief is, both for what I miss in her absence, and for the ordinary joys she's missed these three days. As always with grief there are 'triggers' that brings it all back again. Of course I know the intensity will fade with time. Joanne often said "Grief touches grief."  It's so true that new griefs tie in to old grief from the past. One does not live as long as I have without having experienced significant grief. Though none compares with the grief of Joanne's death 8+ years ago.

   As was true when she died, the community of family and friends is once again comforting me. After her death I often wrote that it is relationships that sustain. Again, in this current sadness, that so many care so deeply, is a source of hope.  Thank you! I am very grateful.

Takk for alt,

Al

Kaia spent hours looking out the sliding glass doors in the OFH.

Dimensions of grief!

         It almost seems as if the house is hollow as I rattle around alone since Kaia died. There's the immediacy of the powerful presence of absence. She's not in the usual places doing the usual things. At every turn their is an emptiness. Our little routines are no more.

       A second aspect of the grief is the uncertainty of what it means for my future.  I can't imagine hunting without a dog. So, is it time to quit hunting? If so, should I stay in The Little House this fall, or return earlier to the OFH?  Often I said "She keeps me from being a slug."  Will I find the motivation to stay regularly active without needing to meet her needs?

     Then, too, there is the sadness for Kaia herself. It was reasonable to expect she'd have another three happy years. She was a happy dog living a very good life. I grieve that her life was cut short before she could have more good times. She will miss out on a lot.

   Takk for alt,

    Al

In addition to being very good dog, Kaia was smart and good looking.

Kaia's Demise!

       Eight plus years ago when I was blogging about my grief  at Joanne's death, I other referenced the pain of "the presence of absence. Kaia's death has plunged me back into that experience. Upon my awakening Kaia would place her chin on the bed for a chin scratch. As soon as I arose I'd let her out into the front yard so she could relieve herself. After our breakfasts I'd settle into the recliner to read the morning paper online and check emails, while she slept nearby. Once she decided it was time for us to move she'd sit and look at me. Whereever I was in the house she'd be near. So, the house is full of the presence of absence.

     There's another aspect of grief in her death other than the immediate absence. She was significant in the future I planned. Hunting season opens in October. Hunting with her, was the most important part of hunting. Hunting alone has no appeal, so, I do I quite hunting? If so, why stay in The Little House during the fall? The OFH is perfectly comfortable, perhaps I should return earlier than the typical Thanksgiving time?

   Grief; obviously I've been here before, she's the 7th of my dogs to die. Then, too, this grief is in no way comparable to the grief of Joanne's death. Grief has the same features but clearly not the depth as loss of a spouse. I'm very grateful to have had the joy of Kaia's companionship for five and  a half years, which explains the depth of the grief at her death.

Takk for alt,

Al

Kaia in front of the sliding glass doors in the OFH.

DEVASTATED!

      Kaia died this morning on the way to the vet. We'd gone to the field to cut cedars about 9:00, to beat the heat. Kaia quickly flushed a brood of half-grown pheasants. After about an hour of work we went back to the truck and headed to town. Uncharacteristically Kaia lay on the floorboards rather than her customary place on the seat. A few minutes later, in town, I realized she wasn't doing well. Immediately heading for the veterinarian in Brookings we'd gone only a few miles when she died. The vets' guess is it was heat related.

    Springer Spaniel, Kaia, born 2/25/2016, Pine Shadows Kennels, Brainerd, MN, died July 17, 2026, Brookings County, SD. Pine Shadows in a nationally recognized kennel and breeder. Kaia had great bloodlines and was to be a brood dog at the kennel.  Her estrus cycles were too irregular so they had her spayed and sold her to me in February, 2021.

    She was exceptionally well trained. When I released her in the park near the OFH she'd run while I walked. If I stopped she'd come to me. She avoided other people and other dogs. When I started toward the park entrance she'd run to the gate and sit, waiting for me to leash her. In the OFH she only went to people at their invitation, avoided other dogs, and didn't bark.   

    Kaia was my 7th Springer, going back to Christmas, 1976, when Frank gave me Thor. Our lives were totally intertwined. Scratching her chin before going to bed, when I awakened she'd put her chin on the bed. She kept me moving as I'd walk as she ran. Kaia loved the trees around the cemetery as I walked the perimeter road.

   Yes, I'm devastated!

Takk for alt,

Al

Kaia's characteristic pose asking "now what?"

Kaia qualifies!