(I posted this on a marathon runner’s forum this morning 1/29/2002…
that explains all the references to running.
Good-Bye Norton. I will miss you and I will never run again without
thinking of you waiting for me to come home.
I’m going to take up a little space here to write a note
about my dog Norton. I know this is really not running related but he
was and always will be just as important to me as running.
Norton died this morning.
He was our 15 year old Lhasa Apso who never stopped being a puppy.
And while he was more of a sprinter than a long distance runner
I cannot remember a single time when he saw me put on my
running shoes that he would not start going crazy in hopes I’d
take him with me on a long run.
Given his short legs and in his older age the tendency to
tire out quickly I would not take him running but I can guarantee
you that if I had he would have given his whole heart and soul
to have tried to stay with me.
Loyal to an infinite degree ALWAYS happy to see me come home
from work and full of playfulness. We kept his hair cut short because of the
hot summers and mild winters down here in Texas so he did not
look like one of those “fancy” dogs… he was just a good all-around
companion who loved to play.
He actually got to run in a couple of pet & owner races and even though
the bigger and faster dogs beat us by a hundred yards or more
he would always act like he was the best and fastest dog in the park.
In one race he got a dog t-shirt that on the back says “Bark in the Park”.
He always knew that the shirt was a special one and loved to wear it.
He was wearing it this morning when he said good bye in our living room.
I know the next several runs I go on will be ones where my heart fills up
with memories of that dear sweet dog.
And I know that running will help me get over the giant void that’s
weighing down on my spirit right now.
And I also know that I will never forget the memories of all
those times I came home from running to find Norton at the door
waiting for me tail wagging and smiling that little grin of his…
and always hoping I’d take him with me on that next long run.
To Norton I say good bye but I know in my heart,
you will always be running with me at my side… brave loyal and happy.
Good-Bye dear sweet Norton.
You will always be my “little buddy.”
Steve
| Norton |
| Steve Collazo |