• Home
  • Jennie Helderman
  • As the Sycamore Grows
    • Discussion Questions for Book Clubs
  • Reviews and Recognition
  • Other Books
  • Contact
  • Blog

Jennie Helderman

Author. Blogger. Activist.

Growing up in my family, you had to thread a worm onto a bream hook or tell stories. I can still do both.
I'm an author, blogger, speaker, and champion of women and children. Can tell my stories or help you tell yours.
  • Southern Funerals
  • Senior
  • Personal Essay

Goodbye, Winston…..revisiting a memory

March 4, 2018 Leave a Comment

love of a dog

Winston, a Jack Russell/birddog mix that I fostered in 2013-14. He kept me on my feet while winning a place in my heart.

Goodbye, Winston.

When I agreed to foster Winston early in December, 2013, I thought he’d be around only a few weeks. He stayed four months.

Just out of a bad situation of neglect, he was so happy to have a home, people to love—and a name—that he followed my every step. I’m sedentary, though, and my steps are slow. He needed playmates.

Now he has them. He has a forever family with three dogs, five children plus an exchange student and all their friends in and out—Grand Central of activity. No lack of attention and affection. He’ visited for play dates for several weeks, so he already knew them.

And what else was good? They lived just a few houses away from me so I thought I could still get my Winston-fix on occasion.

And I did a few times. Then we moved in 2014.

Yesterday I yearned to see Winston again. Wondered if he would remember me after so long? If he would come running to me, his tail wagging?

The house was stripped of its stucco. It appeared empty and abandoned. No family. No children. I felt empty also.

Goodbye, Winston.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Author Photo Jennie Miller Helderman is the author of As the Sycamore Grows, winner of six national nonfiction awards, speaker on domestic violence and women's issues, and freelance writer.

Recent Posts

  • Farewell Toaster Oven September 8, 2018
  • March for Our Lives—Atlanta March 24, 2018
  • Unveiling of Helen Keller Statue in U.S. Capitol—A Memory Post March 12, 2018

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Tweets by @jenniehelderman
Jennie Helderman
Jennie Helderman

Copyright 2016 · All Rights Reserved · Website by TechAdvocate Solutions