A dog

A dog isn't just a dog, it's a carrier of family history.  This is something I realised while visiting my parents this last weekend.  It was during this time that we had to say goodbye to our faithful companion, Harley, after just nine amazing years.  Dogs are amazing creatures really, and I realized we were mourning not just for the loss of a family member, a best friend, but also a time in our lives that we will never get back. It was during this time that I graduated (3 times), got married, and moved away from home.  We celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases, and summers at the lake.Harley was a huge part of all of these things. He was there when I moved away from home and couldn't get through the night. My parents sent him to my new house just so I could have a piece of home with me for a few days.  He was there when I broke up with boyfriends, failed tests, and fought with mom and dad. He was there when my brother went through his divorce and he was born shortly after his daughter. Pets are such a huge part of our families and lives and the loss of one is both devistating and terrifying. We are scared to live a life without them and move on.  We are sad that they are no longer there to comfort us, aggrivate us, make us laugh, and eat our shoes.  We are happy that they are no longer in pain and are watching over us.  As we grieve we remember the good and laugh at the bad.  That time he ate my mom's huge poinsetta? She was so mad.  But remembering him, standing in a pile of leaves with leaves sticking out of his mouth with a "who me?" expression is now a funny memory. That time he ate my favorite skate shoes? Okay, I was pretty mad then, but now it's a fond and amusing story and a funny memory to look back on.  He was there when I got sick at grad and had to come home early.  He didn't care that I had puke breath, he just snuggled right up. And okay, maybe I'm still mad about the time he puked in my back seat and my then boyfriend (now husband) almost puked from the smell of it.  But I forgive him that one indescretion.  Dogs are amazing beings.  They manage to accomplish in their short lives what most of us don't ever accomplish.  They can forgive, and give unconditional love.  They do not judge what you do or what you look like, and they don't care how your day went.  They simply want to be loved, and love you back.  My whole family is devistated but I know that we will remember Harley with a fierce love and fondness that is not commonly found.  I leave you with this.  Remember that dogs take your heart and cherish it.  They walk with it, sleep with it and they never let it out of their sight. When it is their time to leave us they will take a little piece of our hearts to remember us by and they will leave a piece of theirs for us to remember them.