The Life We Live

My New Best Friend

• Nicole Williams • Season 1 • Episode 3

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In this heartfelt episode, we embark on a heartfelt journey through the bittersweet experience of saying goodbye to an old friend while welcoming a new one. Join me as I reminisce about the cherished memories of our beloved dog, whose unwavering companionship filled our lives with joy for so many years. You'll also hear about the delightful arrival of a playful puppy, and the excitement and challenges that come with introducing this new family member. Discover how this little bundle of energy is not only bringing laughter into our home but also helping to mend our hearts as we navigate this beautiful cycle of love and loss. 

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Welcome to the Life We Live, the podcast where we dive into the stories of everyday people and the incredible lives they lead. I'm your host, Nicole Williams, and each week we'll explore the unique journeys, challenges and triumphs of individuals from all walks of life, from artists and educators to entrepreneurs and community heroes. Our guests share their experiences, insights, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Together, we'll celebrate the beauty of our diverse human experiences and discover the common threads that unite us all. So whether you're on your morning commute, winding down after a long day, or simply looking for a dose of inspiration. Join us as we connect, learn, and uncover the rich tapestry of life that surrounds us. Let's get started. Well hello guys! It has been a week in my house. We were all down with the sickness. So all your moms out there can imagine what my week was like. I don't know about any of you, but there are no days off when you are a mom in my household, no matter how sick you are. And unfortunately, because my little ones were sick along with my husband, I was running around trying to take care of everybody else. And sometimes that means you don't take care of yourself. So it took me a little while to get cut over it, but I'm finally here over the sickness and ready to start up again. Uh, so today's episode I really wanted to talk about my new best friend. That's right. I have a puppy. A almost 16 week old Tasmanian devil is really what I have. And so I wanted to spend today just talking about how did I get here? I kind of have a little bit of a zoo in my house between cats and now my dog. Um, and my new addition is not my very first best friend. Um, unfortunately, uh, about a month before I was diagnosed with cancer, my, uh, dog, who was 18 years old, Shepherd lab mix, passed away from old age. And so it has taken me almost two years to get to this point. But I'm finally here. I have a new addition, and I just want to tell you my story. So today we're going to be talking about my first bundle of excitement with Maggie. Maggie was again a Shepherd lab mix. She was the greatest dog I've ever owned in my life and taught me so much about. A different type of taking care of of something or someone. Now I have children. I'm not saying that it is the same, but there is a lot more that a dog requires than a cat. And I learned a lot about myself, about, um, how to communicate with an animal that does not communicate or how to learn their language. And I had so much fun and a lot of great, fond memories of my Maggie. And I want to just share those stories with you. So I'm going to start with telling you how it came to be. So when I was little, we always had grew up with with animals. Um, I had a cat most of my childhood until young adulthood. Uh, he was, um, such a fun cat. Lived a very long life, and, um, was really affectionate. Uh, kind of grew out of being my best friend, though, and became more of the cat with the adults in the house. So my mom and stepfather. But nonetheless, uh, he was a great, great cat. But when it came to dogs. I my my father. Before my parents divorced, he would always bring home a dog with this thought of, oh, we're gonna have this new animal, but I swear it would be a month later and that dog would be rehomed. And the responsibility was not something my dad really wanted to take care of. So I had a lot of in and outs in my life of getting really excited and getting attached to this lovely puppy, and then come to find out that the puppy was rehomed. Um, so as you can imagine, when I grew up and was on my own, I was really excited to get a puppy. But it was not all about me. As much as I think it's about Nicole all the time, it is not always about Nicole. And at the time I was with my husband and we, um, were in a very serious, committed relationship, had purchased our very first home together, uh, so felt comfortable in the fact that wasn't going anywhere. And then, um, he proposed. And so naturally, of course, my thought was, oh, next thing before marriage is let's get a dog. So he was very reluctant for me to get a dog. Um, I think he understood the amount of work. I think I was more pie in the sky. This is, you know, cute little bundle of joy. Everything's going to be wonderful. It's going to be easy. We got this. And so. Probably much to his dismay. Or I guess it wasn't really dismay because he did approve eventually, but I think I just wore him down, to be honest. And he was like, you know, whatever, Nicole wants to make me happy. He decided, okay, we can get a dog. So I was working at a, um, non-profit, and, um, I had a friend there who had heard of a family that could not afford the litter of puppies. Was looking to get rid of the puppies. Get rid. Meaning sell the puppies. Uh, not in a negative. That sounded really dark, but I meant sell, um, the litter of puppies. And I had it in me that I was going to go there. I wanted a male puppy because in my mind, I thought, oh, if I get a male, they'll get really attached to me. And okay, yeah, it was a little me, me, me, me me. But, you know, you grow, you learn. And so I ended up, uh, going out to take a look at what was these adorable fur balls that were German shepherd Labrador mixes to the best of their knowledge. And I looked at every puppy. There was one little tiny, almost the runt of the litter. Who was by the door really howling, calling out for its mother. Uh, wanted to be outside, out back with mom and all the other puppies were more engaged. So naturally, I picked this cute little boy who was really engaged, playful, and I had him in my hands. And when I looked over the kids of the family that was trying to sell, these puppies started to bawl. Apparently, I had picked the one that the family said if he doesn't find a home they were going to keep, and I my soul just crushed. I could not have these poor little kids crying, devastated, not getting to keep their puppy, especially knowing what it felt like from the other side of having a puppy and then having the puppy taken away every so often. I knew that feeling well. So I looked at those kids and the parents and I said, listen, I'm just really excited to have a puppy. I will take any puppy. I do not need to take this puppy. And the only puppy that was left, yes, was the little runt that was by the back door crying, whimpering. And all they wanted was their mom. So I said okay. It was also a female. Not not a male. So, you know, nothing I wanted. But little did I know everything I needed. So I took a little tiny runt of a puppy. I paid the absurdly cheap cost of $50, and I put her in the car, and I looked at her and I said, listen. I said, I promise you, I promise you I will be the best owner ever. If you promise, promise to be the best dog ever. And. Then we started the car. We started driving and she threw up everywhere. So I think we had a moment. I, you know, looking back, I remember recall a fond moment of, okay, this is going to be fine. We're going to figure this out. Um, but, you know, it was it was not a cinematic moment at all. It was very much real life on life's terms. This puppy who, uh, decided to vomit all over the car, um, but anyway, took took her home and. My fiance at the time came out and he's like, okay, let me see this thing. And I tell you, he fell in love. The moment he saw her, he was like, oh my God, she is the cutest thing ever. And there's no doubt she was the cutest puppy ever. Um, she had like, the wiry, wispy furball hair. Uh, she looked just like a German shepherd in terms of coloring, but her snout was more rounded, like a lab. Little shorter. Uh, not as pointy as a German shepherd, but she was just this sweet, sweet animal. Sweet soul. So really, we then got into life, right? And when I say we lived, we lived. I mean, Maggie did not go anywhere without us. When we went on vacations, Maggie came with us. We used to train her off the leash and take her into the woods on hiking trails and snowshoeing and four wheeling and camping and fishing. And she loved, loved, loved golf balls. So we would go out into the empty fields and just smash golf balls. And she would spend hours just running and chasing and grabbing these golf balls and bringing them back and over and over and over again. And she just was the best dog ever. And things only got better when it came time for my husband and I to have our own children. She really became second mom. She was the one that would, when I was sleeping, go around, check on the children, make sure that they were in their beds. She would rotate at night sleeping in our rooms and she just loved our family. She was part of the family. Um. Like I said, we don't have a memory. You know, in the past 18 years of her life that she was not a part of. Um, and when we got to the very end of her life, it was it was difficult. She wasn't as mobile as she was previously. Obviously unheard of to have an 18 year old dog, especially a large dog at her most fit. Um, and she was never overweight. She was over £100. So she was a big, big dog. She was not the runt that I picked up, um, originally. And she just was. I mean, she was the kindest, kindest animal that I've ever met in my life and really taught me a lot about just love in general and, um, devotion. And, you know, when she was not well, at the end, I would, you know, hand cook her meals and cook her chicken. Um, you know, I would play with her anytime she was sick or not feeling well. Anytime. I was sad throughout the years. She was right there by my side. We were a family. And it wasn't just me that had this relationship. It was. Every single one of us in this family had a our own special relationship with her. You know, my son would come home and, you know, get home off the bus, and he'd talk to her about his day, like he would sit there and she'd watch him do his homework. Um, same with my daughter. My daughter, you know, like to snuggle with Maggie and, um, you know, sing for Maggie because my daughter likes to sing and has the most beautiful voice ever. But that's for another day. And so, you know, it was just devastating to have our family member leave us, but. And it was also just trying to remind ourselves to keep all of the joy and fond memories that we had. Keep those close to our heart. Not not dwell on the fact that she's not with us any longer. So, um, it took us a really long time, and it was a really long time and a really hard time because she left probably right when I felt like I needed her most. Um, so a month after I lost Maggie, I ended up getting diagnosed with cancer. And I knew in my heart, and I truly believed this, that dogs know. I really believe that dogs know when it's time to go. And I know that there was no way that we could have emotionally been there for her and have the family be there for me when I was going through my treatment. So I really believe strongly that, you know, Maggie. Maggie picked her time to go. And, um, that that was right before it was the time everybody needed to focus on me. And so I don't think there was a day in my treatment that I did not miss my Maggie, that I didn't want to just curl up on the couch and have her by my feet, or give her a hug, or the days that I was nauseous and I didn't have anyone, um, that understood my feelings that for whatever reason, I felt she would have understood. She would have cared for for me. But it was not in the cards. And, you know, she was old herself. So I know that's kind of, I guess can sound a little selfish looking back, but, um, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want it, um, during that time and long for her and her comfort. Um, when I was going through my time. So I ended up, you know, getting through my own treatment. Um. I guess. Plug for episode one. If you haven't heard it, you can hear about my journey. Um, and so here I am. I am officially a survivor. I have a house full of cats because yes, I am a sucker for adopting any kind of animal that is in need of a good home. Because I truly believe that, um, the love that we have here in the household that I've created with my husband is a one in which any child or animal would adore to be a part of. So, and, you know, let's be honest, they're cute, they're cuddly, and, um, they're they're quite entertaining. So here we were. It was around Christmas time, and my husband decided to, uh, bring up, as he often does, uh, reminiscing about Maggie. And we were in a conversation, and he goes, you know Nicole. Don't take this the wrong way. Meaning? Cool your jets, don't run out and get a dog. But I really miss having a dog. And I said to him, oh my gosh, I really miss having a dog too. And I've honestly been thinking a lot about it and I feel like it's almost time. And he goes, oh, here we go. I said, don't run out and get a dog. I said, no, no, no. But seriously, I'm, you know, we it's been a while and it feels like an empty home. And I know we both said we could never even picture ourselves loving another dog the way that we loved Maggie. But at the same time, we know we have a lot more love to give. And that really started our our conversation, that started our hunt for our new best friend. Our new best friend. Name is Hunter. Um, but it really was meant to be. Um, so I started looking. Um, we thought we wanted another shepherd lab or some sort of shepherd mix again, just because we literally had the greatest dog ever in the dog that we had with Maggie. Um, but we were open. Um, and so I had gone on to a rescue site and found, um, we did decide, you know, while we are very open to adopting a older dog, knowing that we have a houseful of other pets, um, we thought that getting a puppy would be easier in terms of acclimation and, um, easier on cats, easier on, um, the dog to transition as well. So with that said, we decided puppy, um, and all the work that comes along with it. So we ended up, um, finding a rescue and they had Shepherd Husky mixes. And I showed my husband the picture online and he said, oh my God, Nicole, they're adorable. We really need to we really need to pursue this. So I set up an appointment and my kids were excited, I was excited, and then all of a sudden we got a call saying, the flight, they're coming from Georgia, which I guess is a pretty regular thing to have animals fly in from Georgia. I don't, I don't, I don't know all the background behind that. But, um, I think a lot of, um, puppy mills happening in that area. But anyway, long, long story short, uh, we were getting, um, the flight had been delayed due to weather. And so with that, we were devastated because that pushed out our adoption by a week or two. Now, I know I'm you listening, or you're saying how incredibly impatient I am. And yes, it is true. I am probably the most impatient person you will ever meet in your life, and I own it. I own my faults. Um, but in sometimes, you know, the biggest faults actually bring you down a path that you were really meant to be down anyway. And that was really what happened here. So my impatience and my desire to have a puppy and knowing that I had already taken time off. So I wanted time for us to get acclimated and need to be off so I can be 100% focused on puppy and transitioning puppy. I was really upset about the fact that we were not getting the the puppy when I wanted to get the puppy, just. Being real here. So with that said, I talked to my husband and I said, listen, I said, I'm really upset. The kids are really upset. I'm also, you know, contemplating, is this the right move? You know, we I truly believe in. If it's easy, it's meant to be. And if it's not easy and it's hard, then it's not necessarily the right thing or maybe not the right time for that thing. And so I know how crazy all of this sounds, but I started to second guess everything. And that's when we I said, well, did you see our friend online on Facebook? They have. Apparently she does some partnership where she fosters puppies and there was a puppy that she was fostering. And I'm like, you know, I kind of feel good about knowing someone and being able to engage in a conversation, especially if a puppy is being fostered by her. You know, she'll have more details. She'll be able to help support us through this process. And so we decided to reach out. Um, and we reached out and it just so happened that they were literally, I think it was 5 or 10 minutes before we had reached out to our, uh, friends. She had set up an appointment for another family to take a look at, uh, the puppy. So here we were, feeling broken hearted again. But we were told if anything falls through, we would be the first person that, uh, she would call. And so I told my kids, and, yes, this is going to make a sound like the most awful people in the whole wide world. But I'm going to be honest with you, we're all hoping that the meet and greet would crash and burn. Crash and burn. Not in the sense that anybody would, um, get hurt or not, that anything really would happen with a puppy, but crash and burn, meaning it wasn't the right fit. And apparently this family was looking for something very specific. They already had a dog. They were looking for a dog to get along with their already established dog. And I was just I found myself hoping that. The two chemistries did not mix with the dogs. I just again, awful moment. Not my proudest moment, but I am only human and it is the truth. That is what I wanted. And my daughter said exactly what I was thinking in my head. And she goes, mom, is it awful that I really just want this not to work out? And I said, no, let's not hope for anything bad. But I hear you loud and clear. And yeah, I'm hoping that it's not the right fit either, because we're the right fit. Anyway, fast forward and we ended up getting a call and it was not the right fit. Uh, they didn't, um, that I guess the, the dog that they brought, their own dog that they brought. Could care less about the puppy, and the puppy could care less about the dog, and just was not something that they were ready to commit to. And they said they wanted to look around. So we got the call. So we started to work getting our paperwork filled out. And let me tell you, this rescue foundation that we went through, um, a plus for their efforts in ensuring that these puppies get into a really good home. But oh my gosh, was it a process? I felt like I could probably adopt a baby easier than trying to adopt a puppy. And the amount of information that they wanted from me about our past dog, Maggie, and it was information that they wanted, like back. That was now, at this point, 20 years old. They wanted the her original vet, which unfortunately he had passed away and shut down the practice. So I'm I'm trying to figure out how do I get all this information. They wanted her last rabies, which again, would have been really, really easy if we were, you know, we still had Maggie around, but it has been two years since Maggie passed away and a lot of that stuff I just didn't keep. Um, so I was really afraid we were not going to get this dog. Not for the fact that there was no chemistry or that we wouldn't. That we didn't want this dog. It was everything about trying to get old information on my past dog, who has since passed away. And so I just remember Dave and I trying to scour our cabinets to see, did we keep any paperwork left? From the last time we had Maggie at the vet and I said, you know what? I, I vaguely remember that we had her her vaccination tags. I just can't remember where we put the vaccination tags. And with that said, we were scouring the house, scouring the house to the point where I literally took a minute and I just said out loud, I said, Maggie, if you really want this to happen, point us in the right direction. And I kid you not. It was literally two minutes after I had said that out loud, that my husband comes walking in from the garage and he says, you won't believe what I just found in our cabinet out here in the garage. And it was Maggie's last vaccination tags. And again, I don't know what anybody believes in, but for me, it was a moment where I really felt. It was Maggie saying, like blessing the fact that we were going down this path and, uh, pointing us in the right direction to adopt our puppy. So with that said, we are now proud, proud owners of our little bundle of joy. His name is Hunter. He is a lab border collie mix and we love him to death. He is, like I said, part, part lab, part border collie and a lot of Velociraptor. This puppy is really bad into the nipping phase, so I think we are pretty much his human chew toys and we are desperately working on trying to fix that. But, um, loving every minute, all the bruises, all of the nose, all of the fun, fun potty training. It has been a lot. The late nights, all the stuff you really forget when you have a well-trained dog, adult dog, um, all the work that comes into preparing, uh, nurturing, I guess. This this, um. Puppy into becoming a well-rounded family dog. Um, so he is so smart. He is so much fun. Very, very, very nippy, but so much fun. And we are enjoying every minute of it. But also looking forward to some of these stages that he will grow out of. Um, and I couldn't be happier. He is more. He is most definitely my dog. And I think that's just because, again, like I said at the beginning of this episode, it is always mom's duty to keep being mom. And it doesn't matter if it's mom to puppy mom to kids, or even mom to husbands sometimes. Um, so I am night duty. I am the, uh, feed. Beta of of said puppy. And I also happen to be the playtime with that puppy. Um, but I am taking every minute of this and enjoying it and building a relationship. And in the short period of time that we've had him, I can tell you that it has been. Crazy to see. And sometimes I feel like, you know, when I had Maggie, I was I was young, I mean, I was early 20s, um, and there's just a lot you don't really. Recognize or understand. And now that I am doing this all over again, and in my early 40s, I'm seeing and appreciating a lot more in the transition and growth of our puppy. Um, as he transitions through the stages, there's nothing more fun than seeing him when we first got him, as he is starting to build the relationships with each one of us in our family. So the relationship he has with my husband versus the relationship he has with my daughter, versus the relationship he has with my son, and finally, his attachment to me is the best thing in the world. Um, so it is it is really interesting to watch him grow, um, to watch him learn more around, you know, simple things like sit and stay and, um, as he learns how to play and desperately tries to carry two tennis balls in his small little mouth that he cannot do, but he does not give up. Um, so all of you out there who have an animal have a dog contemplating getting a dog. It is a lot of work, but it is a home worth it every minute, even when they're not behaving. There's so much there in terms of a relationship that you build, one that stays with you for a lifetime. Um, there's nothing that feels better than the unconditional love you get from a dog. From laying on your feet at night to, uh, they hear a loud noise and they perch and sit, you know, right in between your legs just to make sure everything's okay to, you know, the perking up when they hear somebody at the door or when you walk in the house, and there they are, and they are jumping and whimpering and so excited to see you. And when you're having a really, really lousy day, they don't care. They don't hold it against you. They just love you. They just want you and they want to spend time with you. Um. And so it is the best feeling in the world. Um, when I was. Oh, I don't know, it's it was probably like 2 or 3 weeks into Hunter being home with us, and I had this, uh, big doozy of a spill. I was outside walking with him, and I don't know what I did. Um, I'm not the most graceful person out there. I was walking down our neighborhood, and my daughter was with me and Hunter, and I think it was the fact that he crossed in front of me. And the fact that I was just so excited, he was actually kind of going on a walk that I ended up tripping, falling and smashing my knee into the cement, uh, sidewalk. And it hurt when I say it hurt, it hurt so bad. I know, I know because I know my neighborhood well. I know I'm somewhere out there on the ring camera ethers. I know people are probably laughing at me, or I'm sure there is some neighborhood chat of hey, yo, did you see that girl who took a digger out there on the street? Hope she's okay. I know I'm out there. I know that it was a very dramatic scene because it hurt so bad. I didn't get up. I think I was laying in a neighbor's driveway for a good ten, 15 minutes before I could catch my breath. I mean, moaning. My daughter is like, are you okay, mom? And I'm like, I'm gonna get sick. I'm gonna get sick. Like I hurt that bad. And I finally got up. And, um, the point of this is, is between my daughter and my dearest puppy. They were following me, making sure everything was okay. Helped me get all the way home. My husband comes running outside, like I'm telling you. The dramatics were real here. Like nothing you've seen before. He's running outside. Running to get me. Are you okay? Are you okay? And I'm like, I. I fell, I felt. Yes, I was crying a grown ass woman crying over skinning her knee. And then I then I just couldn't stop crying. And I think it was just the fact that I was so embarrassed at that point in time, because they had made it such a dramatic thing that I was, I was bawling, and then I, I'm sitting there and I'm. My husband's trying to clean out the wound, and he's trying not to laugh and be very supportive. But I'm like, I'm laughing and crying at the same time. And I'm sitting there and I'm like, I don't understand. I can go through everything I went through with my cancer treatment and I didn't cry and I was fine, but I get one skinny and it takes me out. Um, but I was a mess. I was a mess. And yes, yes, this 41 year old woman here, this one right here, did call her mom. Yes, I did. That's how dramatic I was. Yes, that's how real it was. But in my defense. I had completely not only skinned my knee, but I had hit it so hard my whole kneecap was numb and I had a bruise that went all the way to my knee, all the way down to my ankle. So it was, it was a it was a fall. It was a fall. And, um, for those of you that are not northerners, I, I while I am not a northerner right now where I live, I spent a good chunk of my life up north. Um, we call it taking a digger, meaning a really big fall. You just take a big digger into the ground. Um, so that is exactly what happened. And I was in pain for a while. All this to say, I only did I have the lovely support of my daughter, but I had the lovely support of my husband. Um, my son also was like, are you okay? Um, but I also had my puppy. And even as the days went on, when I was hobbling around a little bit, but still had to do what you got to gotta do. Um, I know Hunter took a little easy on me and was very considerate of not trying to hit my my bruise on my knee as much as he could. I mean, he's a puppy. Um, but all that to say is, is I had someone I had I had a lot of someones, but I had, um, a fur friend who helped me through that, and that's just the beginning. Um, so all that to say, I am very, very proud, mom. Um, a new mom, a new fur mom, uh, with my my boy Hunter. And I'm going to be posting some pictures if you're interested in taking a look at my little bundle of joy, my hunter on Instagram at Nicole Williams The Life We Live. I want to thank all of you for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed this podcast show. I truly appreciate you tuning in and listening. I want to thank you all. This was a lot of fun to tell you. My story about not only Maggie, but my new hunter. I hope you found it a interesting and inspiring story. If you have a story that you would like to tell. Feel free to contact me. You can visit me at my website. Details posted on the podcast. Send me a note. If you found this episode meaningful, please consider subscribing and sharing it with others. If you like this episode and want to support the creation of more episodes, visit me at biography.com. The life we live. Until next time. Embrace every moment and find joy in the life you live.