Two solid years in a pandemic, when it seems everyone has lost someone dear to them, I have to one more to add.

In early January, a few months back, my family and I lost our dear Windchimes. Even still in March, I miss her. Chimsey was a rescued greyhound who came bounding into my life years ago when I was a seminary student. I remember the day when the van opened and I first saw the face of my girl. She had been returned to the rescue because her owners moved somewhere where they couldn’t have dogs. She was really skinny and had some medical issues that cleared up with veterinary care, but left her toothless.

She moved with me from seminary in the south to the first congregation I served up north. It was an amazing experience to be in a new place serving the most incredible congregation, but it was also new, hard, and had its lonely moments. Chimsey and Toby, my other grey, were my family on those cold winter nights. She was the church hound and came to work with me; she was even a brides-pup in a wedding I officiated of congregants who loved greyhounds! She absolutely loved running and zoomed around the yard every chance she’d get.

Then, when I married into my now family, Chimsey was along for the ride and made them her new family too. She was extraordinarily funny and sassy. But most of all, she was my friend. She loved me and I loved her.

Sometimes, I still look for her in the morning when I wake up, or when I come home from being away. I miss her still.

You may have lost a beloved pet too during the pandemic and if you did, I am so sorry. The grief journey is very real in losing a pet, so I hope you are kind to yourself as you figure out your life without them at your side.

Surely, we’ll meet again someday, Chimsey, and until then, I hope you are running so many zoomies.