Our Gypsy Girl.

Cleo’s back story all began when her Siberian Husky mother Kadence came to temporarily live with my parents while my oldest brother moved from Boone to Charlotte. Kadence was around a year old and full of energy, excitement, and adventure. The opportunity arose one day for Kadence bolt and boy did she bolt; head forward, long strides, and not one glance back. We feared that we would never see her again. We searched neighborhoods, roads, shelters, and streets before Kadence decided to make her grand appearance a few days later. Life was back at ease as Kadence stayed nearby and remained in sight.

June of 2011 arrived and I was eagerly anticipating high school graduation. It was a busy time filled with bittersweet parties and celebrations. After arriving home late one evening, I immediately went outside to fill Kadence’s bowl with food; however, there was no greeting from Kadence. I stood there softly saying, “Kadence” as cries began whimpering from within the dog house. I poked my head inside to find beautiful Kadence nursing seven itty bitty bodies. My hand quickly covered my mouth and I jumped back in sudden shock. I could feel my heart racing and my grin widening. I leaned back in to meet Kadence’s crystal blue eyes and let her smell me in hopes she would not mind me staying close by her and her babies; she made no opposing motions so I carefully lifted each bundle of joy before rushing off to spread the news.

Only a few days in, we noticed Kadence separating herself from her litter. She was unable to produce milk, along with growing ill and dehydrated. It became our family’s job to bottle feed all seven pups every four hours, along with vet visits for Kadence. Kadence trooped through her illness and all seven puppies continued to grow and blossom until the time came for us to rehome our munchkins. My dad and I became attached to two particular pups; one who resembled more of a yellow lab and the other who was a wild mix with reddish fur and green eyes.

This wild mix continued to grow into a bountiful, playful, stubborn, yet loving puppy. A puppy known for excessive escaping, chewing, crying, tearing, barking; a holy terror. A puppy who on more than one account had me in tears, because I never thought we would survive puppy years. A puppy who despite her terrors would curl up in my lap and instantly make me forget anything she had done wrong.

College arrived and it was no easy relationship to have with a young fur child who cried for your presence every time you walked out the door. The summers or weekends at home were never long enough and oh how I longed for our hikes, cuddles, strolls uptown, car rides, treats, lounging in kiddie pools, or watching baseball games while away at school. Despite how many times I let her down as I left again for Raleigh; I always came home to a shrieking bark and ecstatic tail. It became my highest hopes to one day move Cleo to Raleigh with me.

That dream became more real when I met Jimmy. Jimmy and I were introduced in the spring of 2013 and we fell quickly for one another. I kept telling him how he just had to meet my Cleo and how amazing she was. He came to Shelby that following summer and we planned a hiking trip to Crowder’s Mountain. It was when he took her leash, rubbed her ears, and genuinely told her she was a pretty girl that I was certain Jimmy Wood was our future. Despite how badly she stunk that day due to her jumping in a creek to escape the heat, how criss-cross she walked up the path, or how wild eyed she was; he showed her compassion and acceptance.

I shared with Jimmy how I longed to move Cleo to Raleigh and he began stepping in to assist me with this plan. I worked two part-time jobs and lived on campus at the time so Jimmy would help me cover groceries or gas so that I could save as much as possible. Within a year I had saved enough money to cover my first few months in an apartment, along with the pet deposit for Cleo. Excitement filled me as senior year approached and my parents packed my Jeep down with brand new decor, teaching attire, and just enough room for my Cleo.

The transition was hard at first for Cleo, because she now lived in downtown Raleigh where nights were filled with sirens, booming music, people shouting and days were just as loud with garbage trucks and honking horns.

She learned to adjust to my schedule where I would leave around 4:30a.m. and sometimes be back by lunch or perhaps by late afternoon. Cleo’s separation anxiety would sometimes get the best of her and I would arrive back to the apartment to discover chewed up shoes, shredded papers, disconnected phone chargers, anything within sight or reach that she knew belonged to me. I started leaving things out for her to chew on or tear up in hopes of her avoiding personal or important items. Evenings were her favorite, because we often would go to the dog park and enjoy dinner with Jimmy.

Soon came college graduation, first year of teaching, first official home, new town, learning to snuggle a black lab, accepting cats as siblings, and marrying her “furever” fur-daddy. Today on June 4th we are celebrating seven years of Cleo Adair’s life.

In seven years she has taught me to not fret over little things; however, to enjoy every and anything. She has showed me how to let loose when needed, be a shoulder for all to lean on, and when life gives you crap, then just kick some grass over it and roll on…literally. She has made me such a proud fur mama and I am so blessed to have her as my bestfriend.