01/04/2023
WHAT I LEARNED FROM BILL, CAPTAIN JACK, AND THE CHICKEN SISTERS
Sheltie owners are passionate people. That’s how I met Bill. We were in a facebook group where we shared pics of our dogs, their favorite treats and other important stuff.
Bill had an emotional therapy dog named “Captain Jack”. Bill had an imagination and the ability to share stories that were incredible. Combined…they won over the group. Bill was also fighting a daily battle to stay sober.
Our group of dog lovers became Bill’s cheerleaders and motivational speakers as we encouraged him to just make it one more day without taking a drink.
What happened next was incredible. Bill’s daily posts about his adventures with Captain Jack and his flock of chickens, affectionally named “The Chicken Sisters” became the hope, laughs and encouragement the rest of us needed in our lives.
Bill didn’t sugar coat life. He shared a raw, authentic glimpse into his daily life. He struggled with the pain of recovery, the stress of paying bills and the headaches of crappy jobs. He painted a picture of a life that was relatable in a world filled with people trying to look perfect on social media and with their friends. Bill was a breath of fresh air.
The group was filled with pictures of the “Chicken City” that he built out of scraps he found around town. The Chicken City mayor, A.K.A. Captain Jack, would give us updates on his daddy, Bill.
There were always photos of the flowers that Bill found. Some came from the garden section of Home Depot, where Bill worked. Others came from the daily walks he took with Captain Jack. Bill found beauty in the ordinary, where other people just passed it by.
When Captain Jack got sick and couldn’t walk without pain, Bill got a wagon and pulled him around town so Jack wouldn’t miss anything. Bill shared their midnight walks around the fields of Ringgold, GA with us in pictures. Why midnight?
Bill worked long hours at a restaurant and would come home, tired and ready for bed. Jack would give Bill “the look”. The one that said, “What about our walk, daddy?”. Bill’s heart had room for all of this love scrunched up next to the years of pain and hurt. Love came first.
It didn’t matter how hard or long or awful the day was. Bill always ended his posts with “Today was the best day of my life.”
Maybe Bill’s heart was too full and couldn’t hold much more. That’s the way I see it. Bill had several heart attacks and ended up in the ICU. It wasn’t looking good, but the big concern of our group was that Bill got to see Captain Jack. Bill got a visit in the hospital from his best friend. That was all that Bill’s heart had left. Heaven got a new angel.
Bill’s spirit will always live on in the hearts of those that loved him. My new motto is “live like Bill” and make every day the best day of my life. Bill taught me that your circumstances don’t define you or make you who you are. Life is hard. Get up and find happiness in today. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Look for the roses in my day. Sit down with my puppy and watch the sunset. Stop and listen to the wind in the trees.
Take time to love and let yourself be loved. My word of the year is “Bill”. I want to remember and honor my internet friend and the authentic way that he lived each day. He will live on in our hearts and memories.
Today is the best day of my life.
