Thank you Bullet

I met Bullet on Saturday.

No, I wasn’t shot.  Bullet is dog and a very important part of the Banjo story.

My friends Robert and April own Bullet. Or probably closer to the truth, Bullet owns Robert and April. He’s a nearly 16-year-old Border Terrier.  And, bless his heart, he’s extremely old and feeble. Bullet’s also the reason we ended up with Banjo.

Robert and April rescued Banjo from a home in Nashville. He was living with a couple and their Great Dane. And when the wife went back to work, Banjo didn’t react well to being left home alone. He dug trenches in their wood floors.  Soon, he headed to Georgia to join Bullet and the rest of his family.

Banjo and Bullet, both alpha males, lived together for three years. Most of the time they lived in peace; but when they fought, they REALLY fought.  They also marked their territory constantly.  As April described them, they were “Frenemies.”

So in a heartbreaking decision, Robert and April (and their three children) decided to see if Banjo could be placed in a new home.  They LOVED Banjo (who wouldn’t). It was a terribly painful moment for them.

From their pain came our joy. Banjo lived with us for nearly 10 happy years.

Saturday, I delivered copies of my children’s book Banjo’s Dream to their family. As we were sitting in their den telling Banjo stories, Bullet hobbled into the room. With a gray face, he was wearing a black sweater (he has lost a lot of his fur due to Cushing’s Disease and is constantly cold).  Blind and oblivious to my presence, he spun around a few times and wobbled — he’s weak on his feet — before he finally laid down.  I had envisioned a rough and mean dog who had fought with Banjo. Instead, I met a sweet pup who was at the end of his days on this earth.  I felt gratitude as I patted him on the head.  Because of him, we were blessed with a great dog.

As I was leaving, Robert held a shivering Bullet. I smiled, said goodbye and felt grateful to a special little dog. I know soon Banjo and Bullet will be playing together. This time though, they will play in peace.

Thank you Bullet.