The "Memory" Chest

Several months ago I got this small-sized brown-colored leather ottoman for my bedroom. Not to use as a footstool. Nope!! It was meant to be used as a storage unit.... For clothing. Because until recently, I seldom ever filled my dresser drawers with jeans and T-shirts, embarrassingly enough. Everything was carelessly thrown on the floor. Well, about one month ago, my mind conceived an idea. I have somehow always wanted a "hope chest". But as an unmarried woman, I never understood why. What do I have to hope for when I'll probably never exchange vows with my "soul mate"? No wedding dress to put in it. Zero pairs of minuscule baby shoes. Nothing. Aw, contentment. It is difficult to accept sometimes!! But then.... About one month ago, my Mom's old cedar chest was left open. I took a peek inside. I did not lift any items up, or shift things around. I just looked inside. This got me thinking. Typically, over time, a wife's "hope chest" is filled from top to bottom with baby things, precious memories that can never be relived again. But I have no children. I own a canine, Rose, my beautifully unique Beagle/German Shepherd cross!! And before her was Shadow, an unforgettable "blond"-furred German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix!! So why not fill my small-sized brown-colored leather ottoman from top to bottom with dog memories? I pondered that notion. I weighed the positives, plus its inevitable negatives. That's right. The pro's and the con's. I imagined what I was going to put in there. I took my sweet time. For I have never been one to make rash decisions!! Then, I did it. Hooray!! I emptied my ottoman of its clothing contents. I collected both Shadow's and Rose's memories. They had been scattered from one place to another in my bedroom. A black/blue tattered leash. That belonged to Shadow. A black muzzle. That was Shadow's. She had to wear it after biting our former neighbor's Corgi mix. A red harness. That belonged to Shadow as well. Some of these irreplaceable memories still have her "blond" fur attached!! Several old saliva-stained plush squeaky dog toys. Those were Rose's. Both Shadow's and Rose's red/white fuzzy velvet Christmas stockings. A soft "Beagle" stuffed animal. That is mine, for memory's sake!! An amazing children's book about this "Mystery Dog", entitled: "Zak: The One-of a kind Dog" by Jane Lidz. My glass Beagle Christmas ornament. I would never hang "him" on a tree, for fear that "he" will fall and shatter into a bazillion pieces!! My ceramic "Home is where the dog is." wall hanging. Its painted picture shows a yellow colored pup sleeping soundly on "her" owner's bed. That was Shadow.... My big "Housedog"!! Literally!! My royal blue rubber wristband with the capitol white words declaring: "ADOPT A SHELTER DOG, MAKE A BEST FRIEND.". I purchased that while adopting Rose!! A Ziploc-like baggie full of cookie cutters. For baking Rose treats!! And my bright-colored cardboard "memory box". What is that? It's actually a picture frame box that our dear friend Roberta gave me years ago!! Inside are tiny diverse memories, both about Shadow and Rose!! Then, draped neatly over the small-sized brown-colored leather ottoman is a beautiful quilt. It was made by my Aunt Donna and cousin Desiree years ago!! Across the quilt are various dogs, words, plus paw prints. One of its canines, I believe, is a Golden Retriever/Poodle cross!! Also known, of course, as the "Goldendoodle"!! Yeah!! Score one for mixed breeds!! Plus, among the diverse words, I have noticed, are two different variations of "Mutt"!! Sweet!! Sadly, there were some old memories lost to water and mold several years ago. Shadow's black "halti" which she wore on her face. This was a training "tool" against lunging toward other canines. Shadow's broken leash. She went through so many!! Shadow's "shake can". This was a Pepsi can filled with pennies to help discourage her barking and aggression toward other dogs. It is tragic. These are memories irreplaceable.... That I will never get back. Ever. Over time, though, this small-sized brown-colored leather ottoman will be filled. From top to bottom. With memories of Rose. Someday, I might outgrow that ottoman. But then, I will simply need a bigger one!!