Rob Kugler - A Dog Named Beautiful: A Marine, a Dog, and a Long Road Trip Home

Somewhere on the Road in America

My eyes open slowly as light peers through the slight frost that decorates the back windows of my Toyota 4Runner. I look over and see Bella, my beloved chocolate Lab, nestled in a comfy pocket of her warm blanket. Shes close to me in my sleeping bagas close to each other as a man and his dog can beand my breath forms a small cloud as I let out a contented sigh. I look at my watch. Six A.M. Too early. I wrap my arm around Bella. My eyes get heavy and close once again. Im snoring in seconds.

Thwip, thwip, thwip.

My eyes open again, this time to a giant wet tongue lapping across my face. The blurry image becomes clearer as my eyes adjust to the light. Bella seems like a giant as she stands over me with her snout on my nose, her fine whiskers tickling my cheeks. I can feel the love from her big copper eyes. I look over to my watch, hoping we got some more good rest in. 6:10 A.M.

Aw, babe, I say. Cant we just have a lil more time to sleep?

Thwip, thwip, thwip. Her licking continues as if to say, Nope. Its time to get up, Daddy!

Now, its important to note that Im not crazy. Yet I must be honest and say Im aware that a few of my wires may be crossed or even missing. An image plays through my mind of onlookers peering into my truck. Look at this guy, hes having a full-on conversation with his dog, and even making up the voice for her! Okay, so maybe I am crazy, but Im pretty sure the words I imagine Bella saying to me are the closest to what shed be saying if she could talk. I know how people tend to anthropomorphize their pets and it can be kind of ridiculous, but Ill be damned if the both of us dont know what the other is thinking at any given time. Thats what makes us such great partners. Because we know what the other is thinking, we also know what the other needs, and this morning, we dont need anything more than each other. I move my head back and forth, trying to avoid the onslaught of dog tongue, but Bella has me pinned. My defenses are useless. Theres no going back to sleep after this.

All right, all right, I say. Im up, Im up. I sit up and stretch my arms.

Thud, thud, thud. Her tail whips against the window. Yeah, Daddy, yeah! Thats it! Keep going!

I look at her again, this time more closely. My tired and weary face is quickly replaced with a happy and hopeful one. I let out another big sigh as I wrap her up in my arms, squeeze her tight, and murmur, Im so lucky to have you, baby.

She squirms out of my arms and begins to bounce as she gives me a holler: Cool, now feed me breakfast!

Ha ha. Yeah, yeah. Im just the food guy.

I work my way over to her bucket of food and pour her a bowl of kibble. I slide on pants and a T-shirt while Bella gobbles her food, her tail wagging the entire time. Once shes finished, I put on my jacket and boots, open the tailgate, and help Bella down. A nearby trail in the woods beckons, and we head toward it to take a hike. The woods are silent, breathless in the early-morning air, and I snap off her leash and let her run free. Bella darts about from scent to scent, all the while wearing her patented smile, the smile thats stolen my heart.

Wow. How lucky I truly am, I think. This is how every morning on the road starts with this girl. I cant remember a time on this trip that I havent been woken up by Bellas kisses. Whether its because she wants to let me know she loves me, or because she merely needs me awake to appease her insatiable appetite, which runs on a strict internal schedule, shes always excited about mornings. Shes simply excited for every moment shes alive.

We return to the 4Runner, which Ive affectionately dubbed Ruthie, set for another day of traveling. I open the side door and help Bella up into the passenger seat. I walk around the front of the vehicle, open the other door, and slide behind the wheel. The engine starts up confidently, and as we pull out of the parking lot, I notice that Bella is smiling. So am I. Its hard to have a bad day when each starts as perfectly as this.

I dont know for sure how long Bella has left, and, yes, this thought concerns me deeply. But all is well with Bellas health this bright morning, and I brush anxious thoughts from my mind. The sky is blue, the road is sure, and I remind myself that Bella and I are on a quest. Our journey is far from completed, and we need to keep going. I love this dog so much and want to take her on one last adventure so I can give her everything I possibly can in life. Yet I realize Bella is helping me too. Shes helping me find something I so desperately need.

The road home.