The Greatest Love

When I arrived at Resthill in June 2021 for an interview, I was welcomed by this big blond hunk who drooled all over me, and I thought to myself, is this going to be my future at Resthill, being drooled on?  I am a cat person, dogs scare me, and at Resthill, there were many of them.

But Rylee, the big blond hunk, was so different from any dog I had ever met.  He had those huge brown eyes that could drown you with one good look.  He had a magic about his whole demeanor that would set you at ease at first contact.  He would rest his head in your lap when you are sad.  He would rub his big rump against your leg, just because he could.  Care dog?  He was the real deal.

In the 14 years of Resthill’s existence, there is not one Resident who was not welcomed to Resthill by Rylee personally.  He ensured that each new resident was properly, warmly welcomed, and at ease.  He would walk them to their new rooms, make a turn through the room just to make sure everything was where it should be and then leave, just to lay outside the door until everything was settled down.

Rylee was loved by everyone. The Residents and their families alike.  Our residents’ faces lit up when Rylee arrived at their homes for a visit, and everybody wanted to touch him.  He did not mind that at all, on the contrary, he loved all the attention.

The staff at Resthill had the greatest love and respect for Rylee because he also treated them with lots of love and respect.  They treated him like royalty.

When I decided to travel with my cat to Resthill, Rylee was the first one to welcome Gaia.  She was a bit offish, but he quickly made her understand that he is not the enemy but a loving friend.  It wasn’t long before Rylee and Gaia would lay together on the cool floor of my room’s entrance. 

Rylee was like a child to Esmarie and Alet.  They loved him dearly and he them.  He was a real old softy and followed them around Resthill, in the vegetable garden, rose garden and through the houses on their rounds.  They called him Rompies and Grootseun and numerous other love names.  And he reacted to all of them because he understood their love language. 

Every Wednesday morning when I arrived at Resthill, Rylee would start barking when my car passed the laundry.  This was the greatest welcome and I am going to miss it so.  Who is now going to announce my arrival?