Faces of West County: Nattie the dog
Dogs mean so much to their human companions. Here's the story of one such dog.
Back in May, I met and wrote about Jerry Overstreet. (Sebastopol Times, 5/9/23) He was sitting on his front porch near Analy, his dog at his feet, and below two Trump flags, which is what had really caught my attention.
Jerry was about as sweet and decent a character as I had ever met. I promised not to talk politics, and that was a good call. We were coming from two very different political points of view, and I wasn’t there to debate.
In the following months, I was hoping to see Jerry on his porch, and maybe get to know him better. I passed his house every week on Tuesdays, but didn’t see him again. So a few months ago, I knocked on his door again. To my relief, Jerry answered, but he was clearly a changed man. It was like he had the wind taken out of him.
Jerry explained that the little dog that sat at his feet on the porch had died, and that ever since, he was simply too sad and broken up to sit out there alone. We spoke for a bit, and I encouraged him to come outside again, maybe volunteer at the Humane Society. He said he appreciated me checking in on him, and we left it there.
So a few more months have passed, and Jerry still hadn’t reemerged. I went and knocked on his door again today, and he met me at the door. His voice was gravely, and he was clearly under the weather. He explained that his Analy High class of ’61, had just had their 61st reunion, and 80th birthday party. Forty-five to fifty classmates, most of whom still live in the area, had attended, and that one classmate who had come from Arkansas, seems to have spread her cold around. He was quick to remind me that in ’58, they had gone undefeated, in football of course, and that was against the big schools!
Jerry agreed to come out and sit on the porch with me, and though there were many aspects of this man I wanted to better understand, I suggested we focus on his dog, Nattie, who Jerry is clearly still mourning. He quickly agreed.
Nattie was 100% shih tzu. Jerry and his wife Judy had gotten her from a breeder near Piner. She was the cheap one in the litter as she was all black, and not the more preferred multi colored kind. Nattie was meant for Judy’s sister up in Red Bluff, but for whatever reasons, she changed her mind and didn’t want the dog after all. By then, the little dog had wheedled her way into Jerry and Judy’s hearts, and there was no way they were going to pass her along to anyone else.
“She just loved sitting with me on the front porch. In these last few years, she’d only get up to eat or pee, or maybe if another dog came too close to the porch, she’d go and pretend that she wanted to fight,” Jerry said. “She had a respiratory problem there towards the end. I treated her with some Albuterol, something I used for my own breathing problems. I did that for about a year and a half.”
“That dog could burn a hole in your head with those dark black eyes,” he said. “We used to take her to the groomer every month. Seventy bucks! But she came back so cute and with a little bow. She really loved going too.”
It wasn’t just the porch where Jerry and Nattie spent time.
“She’d get up on my bed every night and roll around for a while before settling down. I’m a snorer and have restless legs, so I’ve got to sleep apart from Judy,” Jerry said. “I’d talk to Nattie every night before we’d drop off to sleep.”
“She’s buried now in our backyard, but I’m not so sure that was such a good idea. I miss her so much, and seeing her picture by her grave makes me so sad … Every night I look down from my bedroom and say, “Good night, Nattie, see you in the morning.”
Nattie died months ago, but it still feels like yesterday to Jerry.
But don’t worry, Jerry is on the mend.
“I’m starting to heal. I’m maybe a five or six out of ten. I can talk about her now without crying…. Nattie is up there in heaven, and she’s going to be so happy to see me someday.”
Hopefully, Jerry will make it back out to his porch again soon, and you’ll get a chance to meet this good-hearted Sebastopol old-timer.
I think I know where that house is! I decided to go to a Christmas boutique at the Community Center after having my hair done so I walked a different way home than going there. I saw this house and I saw two enormous flags, one red and one blue. My thoughts went to the 49ers and the Warriors but to my surprise they were two enormous Trump flags. I am glad that your story end with the owner getting better. It was sad enough about his little dog.
What a beautiful story. Nattie was fortunate to have him and his love in her life. The idea of volunteering at the Humane Society is a good one. Jerry could share his love with many dogs that need it. And it might help him to heal as well.