Yesterday we lost our companion, Otis. He was my first pet. While others have come - and some have gone - in the last 14 years, his passing hits especially hard.
It's natural, I suppose, to look for a larger meaning at a time like this. My mind drifts to a young pup tenaciously hunting down a lost tennis ball in the brush, his tongue playfully hanging out of his mouth. I can hear the excited barking in the car on the way to some dog-imagined bliss. I feel the energentic tug of the leash as we make our way down the sidewalk. It becomes clear that it was never about finding a ball or reaching a destination. It was about joy in the moment. Easier said than done, really. He lived in a swirl of chaos - a sensory overload of noises, smells, and sights. His world must have been like a baffling galaxy of unconnected dots. Yet through it all burst his unbridled happiness. Oh, Otis, we have so much to learn.
Thank you, my friend, for the journey. You've made us so happy, and we we love you with all our hearts.
What a beautiful tribute to a guy who is now chasing the big ball in the sky. He was lucky to spend his years with you. Take comfort in knowing that all dogs go to heaven. He will live forever in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully expressed Paul. "It was really about joy in the moment." That is exactly it right there. Our awesome animals remind us to be in the moment, always forgive, find joy in mundane routines and love unconditionally. Paul & Amy, I'm so sorry for the loss of your precious friend. You were so lucky to have spent life and love together. He added so much! I'm so grateful he spent such an incredible time with us in Door County this Summer. He had a blast swimming! RIP handsome Otis.
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