One of the best things I ever did.
My warm furry friend,
you represent one of the best things I ever did.
Bringing you into our lives was an instantaneous bright flame of happiness that never diminished.
It began when you charged through the door with a big red bow around your neck.
A wagging tail, happy grunts, and endless slobber were your signature and song.
Few understand the true
companionship a dog brings to man.
With unbiased, unconditional, and loving habits that never grew old, you stole my heart.
Every time I came home, it didn’t matter the type of day I had, you greeted me like I was the most important person in the world…and I believed it.
You loved the things we loved and lived the life we chose. Ours was yours because you were ours.
Though over time they made fade,
the memories won’t be erased.
Pictures of you will be reviewed with both smiles and tears. Stories will be told with laughter and longing. The comfort you gave, protective service you rendered, and endless hours of entertainment you provided, are all eternally credited to you in heaven.
In the house there is something profoundly missing. My heart isn’t beating its usual rhythm – the beats it skips are yours. Little things make your absence a really big thing – the garage door opening, door bell ringing, little bits of dog food on the floor that slipped from your soft ungainly lips, the little white hairs on my slacks when I got to the office, the dried slobber on the side of the truck, looking in the side mirror and not seeing your lips flapping in the breeze, a longing whimper to let you out, a scratchy knock on the back door to let you in, walks in the park, walks on the levee, walks in the mountains, the list will painfully grow…
My feet were cold this morning and your velvet body wasn’t there for me to put my feet on – I realize now that you had a magical ability to warm my soul through my feet.
I yearn for just one more time to hear that boom-boom when I pat your proud chest and watch your stubby tail wag as I scratch your belly and tell you what a good boy you are. But as selfish as that may be, I know you are free from the pain that constrained your graying face and hindered your noble prance. You can do your dance for the angels. Teach them what the “kidney bean” really is.
Saturday was a dream. The tender mercies of the Lord blessed us with a quiet grove on a mountain top overlooking His beautiful creation. Long rays of sunshine cascaded through the clouds like a funeral veil. The blue sky provided a soothing backdrop. The trees swayed in the warm and gentle breeze and now they accept the charge as vigil over your strong bones lovingly placed at their roots by a man whose heart and soul is broken.
We lamented that you weren’t there to enjoy the drive into the hills – but you were. We mourned that you missed one more foray into the mountains – but you didn’t. You were with us…for one last time.
Thank you for your patience, thank you for your protection, thank you for the joy, and thank you for the love.
Your life stands as a memorial to…
”one of the best things I ever did.”
Your loving master, dad, and friend.
Good bye my faithful friend,
| Copper |
| 16, Apr 2010 |
| W & M |