Patches

To my good friend and the best dog I ever had.

Oct. 1997 —— Feb. 26.1999

I remember the day a year ago last December that I picked

you out of a litter of 7 pups. You were the cutest little thing

and your fur was so soft it always reminded me of a calico cat.

With the black fur and orange stripes I must say you looked

different from any dog I had ever seen before.

I remember watching you grow for the next year and thinking

how big and beautiful you were. You had such a joy of life

and such love for all animals and people.

You even seemed to know that you had to be very gentle when

playing with smaller creatures and above all you were so smart.

I never had to tell you more than once not to do something

and at supper time you were so patient.

Always sitting quietly waiting until everyone was done to see

if there would be a bone or a scrap left.

I think now I must tell you just in case you don’t already know.

That you were my best friend and that it was the most terrible day

in my life to find you had been hit by a car and killed.

I didn’t even get to see you that morning as you went out with

daddy when he left for work.

I’ll never forget the shock and pain and the disbelief of seeing

you lying there. I called to you hoping that you were just sleeping.

Even though I already knew the truth.

I remember walking over to you calling your name and

bending down to pet you.

I just sat there beside you and continued to pet you

but I hope you know that. After a while I tried so hard to pick you up.

But you were so heavy and I was not strong enough

and for that I hope that you will forgive me.

All I managed to do was to pull you to the edge of the yard.

But I won’t ever forget how soft your fur felt under my hand,

even then. I wish I had known what that day would bring

but at least I will always remember watching you play in the

pasture with the cows and chasing flying birds with such joy.

And most of all how you would come in and put your head on my leg

and look at me with love in your eyes you were so irresistible

that I always had to stop what I was doing and pet you.

And how sometimes when you needed more than that you would

put your paws on my leg until I said okay and then you would

lay your upper body across my legs so I could hug you.

Just the day before you passed out of this world and on to the next,

I looked out the window and stood watching you play.

The sun was shining on you and you were so beautiful.

I want to tell you how sorry I am that I was not there for you

when you needed me.

You will be in my heart and memory forever.

 

Patches