Ninety-one year old Daisy Cramer sits in her medium sized room at the Loving Hands Home for Elders. She has been there for thirteen years. Losing her husband Matt after 68 years of marriage had left her with no more family and few friends. No more could she care for herself, and another love of her life -- her German Shepherd dogs. Her days are now long and lonely. In this home she only has room for a few treasured items. On her nightstand, all in order…are nine beautiful framed photographs of white German Shepherds along with a small fragile shepherd statue. Below the nightstand rests a small wooden box with a photo inlay of one of her favorite shepherds. Inside the frail box there’s twenty-two dog tags Daisy has kept throughout the years. On the walls that surround her long lonely days are additional photographs and show ribbons -- signs of tattered and faded memories of beloved dogs and people that once filled her life with happiness. But, most of all, she wears a small locket that she has never removed since the day she arrived. Inside the small locket are a few tightly white-woven hairs lying next to a tiny photo of a shepherd named Selena. Selena was Daisy’s first white German Shepherd. She talks about her often. Selena was very special as was her memory. It’s such a blessing at Daisy’s age to have kept her memory in tact…capable of telling the many stories about her exciting and infamous life to all who would listen.

A charming lady named Muriel came to Daisy’s room the first day she arrived at the Loving Hands Home. Muriel would mainly serve the meals and help in many essential ways. She wasn’t like the rest of the staff who worked at the home. She was a strong, but petite lady with a soft-spoken voice who always had time for the elders that resided there. In her own caring way she would always listen to Daisy’s stories and would reminisce with her of days gone by. Muriel told Daisy she had worked at the Loving Hands Home for a great number of years. She deserved her position well. Not only was Muriel extraordinary in her own kindness, there was something else about her strength of mind. There was a spirit about her that Daisy could never quite resolve. Daisy will always remember the first day Muriel walked into her room. Her entrance was like a warm ray of sunlight. The second thing Daisy noticed about Muriel was a small white-gold angel pendant on her blouse. (The pendant, Muriel has wore everyday that Daisy has been there.) “Oh how beautiful!” …Daisy said, to Muriel as she pointed to the small piece of jewelry that seemed to glow with every step. “Could you come closer so I can see it better?” Daisy said. As Muriel came closer she could see the angel was a shepherd dog with wings. Daisy gulped and took a second breath. She then, asked, “Where did you get such a beautiful, rare piece?” Muriel sighed. Tears came across her eyes as she told her eerie story. “At one time, I also had a very special dog in my life. He too was a German Shepherd and I named him Love.” Love had saved my life a long time ago. I’ll never forget that day -- I loved him even more for what he had done. He finally grew very old and left my side. I was heartbroken and never felt safe after his loss. So, on Love’s next birthday – my husband Melvin gave me this angel-dog pendant. Melvin told me the pendant would always keep me safe under Love’s beloved wings. From that day on I had always felt Love’s presence.” Muriel then told Daisy she had to go and would see her later in the day.

For Daisy, at this time in her life Muriel’s friendship was more than she could’ve ever asked for, especially in such a sad and lonely place as this home. It was so difficult losing Matt after so many years and then her home and independence to old age. As the days went by Daisy continued to meet new and old residents in the hallways. She would always seem to gather conversation, but none that ever lasted long enough to fulfill her loneliness. Most of the residents at the home couldn’t hold a great deal of conversation. Some couldn’t even speak. For herself, she felt greatly gifted for still being able to do so many things at her ripe-old age.

Visitors to the home would come and go daily and rarely make eye contact. The days grew longer. There were even times Daisy felt she couldn’t remember some things as well as she did when she first came to the home. Daisy started to grow despondent. Muriel seemed too busy at times with the other residents. Daisy started to feel deprived of her special times with Muriel. Later on in the day Muriel arrived with Daisy’s dinner. It was so good to see her. She finally made the time to chat for a while, but then mentioned others needed her time and had to leave. There was an out of the ordinary thing that Daisy noticed about Muriel. Over the years when she would enter Daisy’s room, she would always be by herself. Even during the times Muriel spent with Daisy in her room no other person had ever entered while they were together. Never once did Daisy remember a third person being with the two of them in the thirteen years she had been there. “Oh how odd,” Daisy said to herself, but thought no more about it and fell into a deep sleep.

When Daisy awoke from her sleep she remembered dreaming a magnificent dream. She dreamt she was young again and was running with Selena through a glorious field of golden-wheat. Selena seemed to want to guide her to a special place. So, as they moved along together a warm breeze blew their way. Then out of no where, not far in front of them, at the end of the wheat field Daisy’s German Shepherds from times of yore were standing beside her husband Matt. They stood there quietly looking towards Daisy and Selena. The dogs started to wag their tails as Matt warmly smiled back at them. It was the most splendid sight she had ever seen. The feeling was like no other. It was like a long, difficult puzzle that had lay dormant for years…its last piece finally placed into position. She called to Matt and to her shepherds. As they came closer, almost in reach of her, they mysteriously vanished at the beginning of the wheat field. Daisy looked down at Selena as tears rolled down her flushed cheeks. Selena looked up at Daisy as if to say, “It’s okay, we’ll be back.” Then Selena walked slowly towards the edge of the field to only vanish in a fine white mist.

Daisy could hardly wait to see Muriel again. She had to share her dream. The next morning another lady named Bridget brought Daisy’s breakfast into her. Even though Bridget greeted Daisy with a bright face and a warm good morning, Daisy was terribly disappointed that it was not Muriel. She had to ask, “Bridget, why isn’t Muriel coming to my room any more?” Bewildered, Bridget said, “What did you say again?” “Muriel is her name,” Daisy said in a stern voice. “If possible, I would like to have her come to my room from now on,” Daisy demanded. “She’s my dear friend and I know her well. Muriel has been taking care of me since I’ve arrived here thirteen years ago. She always has time for me. We’ve talked often over those years,” Daisy said. “Uh-huh.” ‘My dear Daisy, there’s no one that works here by the name of Muriel. You must be mistaken,”’ Bridget replied back in a firm voice. Daisy stuttered,” But, but “you must know of her? She has been working here forever…she told me this.” “Here, here,” Bridget said. “You must be overly tired. I’ll get another to come in and talk to you about your friend Muriel.”

A few minutes later a wonderful gentleman by the name of Gary came to Daisy’s room. Gary was the resident doctor at the Loving Hands Home. Daisy said, “Oh, you must be new here?” Gary had been with the home for over 16 years now and felt bad Daisy didn’t remember him. But, they started to talk. Daisy asked about Muriel again. Gary knowing that a Muriel had never worked at the home before -- only pacified Daisy’s concerning questions. Like many, Gary knew from his past experience with the elderly that sometimes such things as this happen. After a while, Gary left the room and said he would be back later.

Not hungry, Daisy put her food aside. She looked down by her nightstand at the small wooden box that held all of her gathered dog tags. Her hard-working arthritic hands lifted the small box to her bedside. She opened it slowly as if it still held an unknown secret treasure. This time when Daisy opened the box, a small yellow tag appeared to her. Had she not seen this before? Slowly she removed it from the box…holding it close to her eyes. It read: Call 1-800-252-7794, 404C626E44 ID NO., Selena. Daisy looked puzzled at the worn yellow tag. She said to herself, “Oh dear, could this be where I can find Selena?” ‘Would she be with the other dogs that I’ve had in my life? Would Matt be there with them?’” This was crazy. Daisy thought, I’m I thinking out of my head? Did I not see this tag before? It looked so familiar. What is happening to me? For a moment, Daisy felt as if she had escaped her surroundings. It felt so real. This had never happened before. She felt as if she was losing her mind, but in seconds was back to the reality of her lonely room.

As the days passed quickly Daisy started to see little of Muriel. Muriel came to her room a week ago and mentioned she would see her very, very soon! For Daisy, it was now becoming more difficult to keep track of the days. There were not many things in her life anymore that meant much. She often thought back to the dream she had. It was a good dream. Daisy was longing to share that dream with someone who would listen. But no one was there for her. She laid her head down on her pillow. She felt so tired. As she closed her eyes she thought she had heard a slight whimpering of a dog in the distance. She opened her eyes and slightly lifted her head off the pillow. She could hardly believe what she was seeing! The little shepherd statue on her nightstand seemed to be coming to life. Its little body was becoming flexible. Its little dark eyes gleamed with so much expression. The fur was soft and subtle looking with its ears standing erect. It was looking right at her…urging her to play. Daisy sat straight up in her bed and rubbed her eyes in disbelief. She had to be dreaming again. Too many out of the ordinary things were happening to her. As she tried to clear her head she looked down at the small statue one more time. It was now no longer moving. She picked it up slowly as if not to hurt it. She nuzzled it gently in her hands, as she looked at it closely. There was no life. It was simply the same little statue as it was the first day she put it on her nightstand. “Oh dear,” she said,” I must not tell anyone of my dreams now…they will certainly think I’m going crazy!”

A number of days had passed by slowly for Daisy. There were no more signs of Muriel, only her promise of coming back very soon. Daisy was never angry anymore and Gary often came in to check in on her. He was such a pleasant doctor. But, she didn’t feel like she could talk to him like she could with Muriel. Daisy grew weak from not eating. She started to sleep more often and continued to dream the dreams that now seemed more real than ever!

As a few more days went by Daisy became extremely weak from not eating. She called for Gary to come to her room. As he came to her bedside, she held up the little tattered yellow ID tag from her box. She slowly placed it in his hands. With soft and unsteady words she said, “Gary, please, when you see Muriel again, give this tag to her. I need to have her call this number for me. She will know.” Gary looked at Daisy puzzled, but in return, said he would keep the promise.

That evening, Daisy fell into the deepest of all sleeps. Another dream came to her. But this time it was more real than ever. She then opened her eyes to witness the most beautiful site of all. There at the end of her bed was standing Matt with all of their German Shepherds from the past with Selena at the side of her bed. All around them was the golden-wheat field. Daisy could feel the warm breeze once again and the fresh air that gave life to her weary breath. And, there, with them stood Muriel, her angel pendant, glowing like a distant star. Muriel smiled and held her hand out to Daisy. In her hand she cradled Selena’s little yellow ID tag. Muriel then said, “Daisy, I told you I would be back soon. I’ve kept my promise you see.”

The next morning Gary found Daisy in her last sleep. He was so saddened she was gone. What a unique soul she was. He couldn’t quite remember another like her. Looking down at her he thought she looked so peaceful. She held an expression he couldn’t quite identify, but had seen before. She had a soft smile on her face and her right hand embraced the small locket that dangled from her neck. She looked as if she had gone peacefully. What a blessing for some. Then, at the end of the bed Gary saw something lying on the floor. As he reached down to pick it up, he discovered it was the little yellow ID tag Daisy had given him. “Oh my, he replied,” I must have dropped it by mistake when leaving Daisy’s room last night.” He felt bad. Then, he saw something else lying scattered close by where the tag had rested. “Oh, how strange,” he said with a whisper, “…strands and fragments of broken-wheat?”