The last paddle

Left:  Keisha enjoying her last paddle
Right:  A much younger Keisha paddling with Leanne

Keisha was a black and tan dachshund; a wonderful dog with an adventurous spirit.  She hated being left behind and was always up for whatever was on the table - both metaphorically and physically.  Walking, bike riding, car rides, squirrel hunting; these were all activities she enjoyed.  One of her favourite things though was kayaking.

Her post was on the front of the boat on a position we used to call the bow-wow.  She was always well behaved, which is why it was not referred to as the poop-deck.  Four paws firmly planted, her sense of balance keenly sharpened, she swayed with the rolling and pitching vessel.  She only ever hit the water once; an evil branch extended its long reach and swept her off.  Once retrieved she resumed her job as figurehead on the prow.

You could not leave her behind.  One of us would be on shore with her, the other out paddling the waves, and she would bark frantically.  It was her job to sit on the front.  Who was at the controls didn't matter.  Once at her post she was in her element.  It was always fun to see her ears flopping about in the breeze; you might expect her to emulate Sally Field in her roll of The Flying Nun at any moment.

Keisha loved all adventures with the family.  She developed breast cancer late in life; surgery removed it but it had already metastasized.  There was nothing to do but love and comfort her and enjoy whatever time was left.  You know how it is.  It was while camping during her last summer that Kathryn (my wife) decided to take her out one last time.

It was a poignant moment for us.  Keisha's last paddle.  She rode in the kayak's cockpit not far from her mommy.  It was difficult to separate the two, with one fighting off the dwindling days and the other coveting what time was left.  Memories of previous days - a happy dog doing what she loved with the people she loved.

We put Keisha down in November of that year.  One of the hardest things either of us have had to do.  To this day we still miss her, her empty post a reminder of her spirit.  Her last paddle engraved in our minds.