I thought it might be a good idea to give you guys some of the stories behind the photos I use from nomad.pictures to post here to Steemit. If ya haven't heard nomad.pictures is a site I run with @teamhumble as a project to provide free CC0 and royalty free images to bloggers and content creators. - Yay!
Meet Crumbs!
A few posts back I mentioned that I used to be a full-time dog walker in the Upper East side of Manhattan. I believe I started in March 2016 and it wasn't long before I had my territory and regulars. Oh, the turf wars, the battles for laptop space near an outlet and coffee shops and the throwing if elbows to get a spot on the packed train at 3:45. I was living the dream TRULY. I wrote a blog post about what it was like my first few day as a Wag walker or as I referred to it. K-NINE MOBILITY SPECIALIST on Medium
ANYWAY, WHERE WERE WE?
It wasn't long before I had my regulars! Yes! Which brings me to my favorite. A dog named Crumbs! Say hiya Crumbs!
Crumbs was a special dog. And there are a few reasons for that...
First of all, she's an older girl- about 9 years old so she was very well behaved and never pulled on the leash, (unless she saw a hotdog on the ground). Her owners let me know she didn't need the physical activity as much as the fresh air, sunshine and break from the new hyperactive puppy in the family.
They also let me know that she was going through chemo treatments for cancer and that I should be mindful to take it easy with her if she wasn't up for much walking.
So I let her decide, once we got to Central Park, which was only a block away, we'd enjoy the spring flowers or sometimes just sit in the shade together.
I was having a really tough year, I struggled with depression and waves of anxiety. Some days it took everything I had just to get out of bed and catch the bus, but knowing I'd see Crumbs, and that if I didn't come to walk her, she might spend the whole day in an apartment, gave me the strength to keep going.
You can see the bandage from her IV in that last photo, she had been treated that day, and I was prepared to take it extra slow with her, but she was in great spirits! No matter what, Crumbs always had a smile for me, she was always happy to see me, and she was always looking after me.
There were times when I was really at the end of my rope and felt like I could burst into tears in the middle of Central Park. She sensed it, every single time, and would paw at me bugging me to pet her, or insist on sitting as close to me as possible, or just be a complete goofball and make me laugh.
She didn't know my story, and she didn't care. Crumbs gave me every bit of her bright and shining personality, even on days when the chemo meant all she had to offer was her head on my lap while we sat in the shade and watched the cyclists go by.
I couldn't believe it, here was a dog fighting cancer, and all she wanted to do was make sure I was looked after. You may know that I'm a massive animal lover. I mean, I could form an emotional bond with a grasshopper but I swear to you this dog had some sort of great-grandmother-come-back-to-help-me-out-all-mother-willow-from-Pocahontas style vibes going on.
She really was so so special.
I often think about her, wondering how she is, hoping she's well and enjoying life. My last walk with her got canceled last minute by her owners so I never really got to say goodbye, but knowing what a mess I'd be, I'm choosing to consider that a gift.
I can say with all my heart I didn't take one moment with her for granted. Being paid to spend time with her felt like robbery. NYC is a damn lonely place and for nearly 6 months she was my exercise buddy, my therapist, and a close friend and companion.
So here's to you Crumbs! Please know I always tried to keep you as happy and comfortable as I could when we were together, and I swear I would have let you chase every single squirrel in that park if it wasn't against company policy to let you off the leash.
I'll love you always sweet girl <3
