My Good Will.

“Make sure you give mama a call when you get home safely”

—it’s always my mother’s parting request. 

No matter how old we get, no matter the distance, 

her insistence and relentlessness has this

ingrained in our heads and hearts---

call mom- we’re home safe.

Finding Mr. Will E. Wonka was a fluke, or shall I say, serendipitous. 

 One day at work, I stumbled upon an ad for a gorgeous CHOCOLATE brown newfie for adoption…

The email I sent to the breeder entitled
"Subject: Your Beautiful dog Will ---"

 changed my life forever. 

That evening, after a three hour drive, the fluffiest, biggest most gorgeous dog I have ever laid eyes on (freshly brushed and super poofy) became my heart and soul forever.  

He was stoic, passive (but alpha)  stubborn, loving (his big fat face loves lots of loving) and my “whole-wide-world” as I called him. 

He knew it too. He knew anything he wanted, no matter what, he would get from mama.  He even provided me with his off-spring, Chaucer Charles, and the three of us have had the most adventurous, amazing, heartfelt years to date.

They say that a dog is man’s best friend.

 Wrong. Woman’s best friend. 

Willy, like clockwork waited at the gate for me to come home every day at 6 pm. 

If I was tied up or had to run an errand, at the gate he stayed, waiting for me. 

Then, the second I pulled in, he would turn around and run back into the house to grab a “baby” (a bone or stuffed animal) and trot back to the gate to show me—proud as a peacock. He was loyalty to the bone.

My Good, Will. My Left side / strong side. 

 I can honestly say was the firmest friend-- 

The first to welcome, foremost to defend… he comforted me, loved me, needed me as much as I needed him. 

He was and will always be my favorite face.

I altered my life to accommodate his quirks— But he altered mine...

 no shinny floors (so runner carpets were EVERYWHERE in the house), no stairs (good luck finding a one level house with a yard big enough to accommodate two newfies)—and if given the chance, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. . 

There will never be a replacement for Will to either myself or Chaucer (who refuses to go anywhere without his daddy).

Will was diagnosed with Wobblers in November. It was out of nowhere and knocked the air out of me. Will would live forever—he is so stoic and enduring and our rock.

 When he was on “bed rest”—Chaucer (who learned his loyalty through Willy—in fact, learned everything from Willy—good and bad) refused to go for a walk without him. 

This stubbornness (a Will E. Wonka staple trait) led to the construction of the Will E. Wonka “wag-on” so the whole family would continue are walks together—and I would continue my legacy of being THAT girl in the neighborhood.

I am fortunate enough to have very talented friends who are also amazing souls.

 Acacia had amazingly offered to take pictures of me and the boys so I would have his beautiful fat face (smiling) evidenced in film. 

Ironically, it was perfect timing and we lost our sweet baby boy a few short days later.

Will E Wonka (whole-wide-world) shut his eyes in his favorite spot in the yard, comfortable and cuddling with me and Chaucer. 

Losing him has put a hole in my heart as big as his fat face.. But the memories I have are forever with me. He was one of a kind and he will forever be My Will. 

In the words of Isak Denson- “The cure for anything is salt water - tears, sweat, or the sea.” 

 A few hours after Will passed away, I went to the beach to “heal” and grieve my sweet baby boy. 

I heard my phone ring, but ignored it. I didn’t want to be bothered. When I checked the missed call, the wind was knocked out of me.

Missed call from “Newfoundland / Labador.

I thought I was hallucinating— but then a calmness set in…

It was my Willy – 

giving mama a call to  say he got HOME safely.

Will-
I know you’ll be sitting at the gate 
waiting for me, as you always did,
 when it is my turn to return Home. 
Until then, darling, 

... it was the pleasure of my life.

Rest in Peace, Kaleidoscope Will E. Wonka.

 (Whole Wide World)

Your memory, and your sweet boy Chaucer ( who just adored you),

 will forever sustain you...

2001- 2014.

  

Near this Spot

   Are deposited the Remains of one
   Who possessed Beauty without Vanity
   Strength without Insolence
   Courage without Ferocity
   And all the virtues of Man without his Vices
   This praise which would be unmeaning Flattery
   if inscribed over human Ashes
   is but a just tribute to the Memory of 
   Will E. Wonka (LaPlante),
the whole wide world.