Olive - our lovely family member

Olive walked / ambled into our lives on 08 June 2003. She was born on 20 Apr 2003 and was part of a litter of puppies that we went to see. As experience has taught me, there is no seeing a puppy. You just bring them home because something just gives way and your rationale of why you cant have a dog in an apartment goes for a toss. I was 3 months pregnant, had been advised to expect a diifficult pregnancy as I was carrying twins and still we fell for the cream colored labrador female pup who was waddling towards us. We took her over to Ritu's house and embarked on choosing a suitable name. Satish wanted to name her Olive as I / she was Olive Oyl of the Popeye the sailor man fame. So she was christened while having tea with lovely friends and Olive playing with Giggles at Ritu's place.

During my pregnancy Olive ate all fruits with me with great gusto. I would later understand that she hated gooseberry as she spat only that when she tried it. She was home when I was in and out of the hospital and brought two pre-mature babies home. I had less time for Olive and as the kids started crawling I could not keep them away from Olive. She was the most patient with two kids who would sleep all over her, pull her tail, disturb her during her meal and try to ride her like a horse all the time. Not once did she growl or be impatient with the kids. There are times when I have asked her to leave the room instead of telling the kids not to disturb her. I used to jokingly say that she was the only person who listened to me in my own home :-)

 As she grew older, she mellowed down and was the gentlest dog in the neighborhood  Kids and mothers who were generally afraid of any canine form, were okay with Olive. They would come forward pet her and say that she was most gentle lady that they had met so far. Olive had a litter of her own to a gently and gigantic Samrat and that was her brush with motherhood. Satish and I delivered the pups.

Olive loved to swim in the sea at Kerala and accompanied us every year. She was a wonder to the village boys and girls who could not get over this dog who would fetch a Frisbee or stick after swimming further and further into the sea. But she retrieved the Frisbee / stick every time without fail. Satish loved to run with her and take her to the sea every day.

After spending 10 years with us, Olive passed on today 01 Feb 2013 due to an infection in the blood and the resulting complications. It was hard to see her sick and then go. Nothing prepares you though you are aware that she is in an exit mode. I think my ode to Olive is about how she converted the non dog lover in me to a tolerant lover of Olive. On the day she died, I am not sure if I can love or connect with another dog, the way I did connect with her but some relationships will always be special and cannot be replaced by a new one. I will miss her running away with my slipper as I enter the home from office, or her tugging my kurta /dress and not letting go till I had petted her and showered attention on her. She was unique adn wiill stay in my heart as my lovely dog. God bless you sweet heart and I hope you are born into another loving household which you will enrich the same way, you did ours!