A Love Letter To My Childhood Dog

I wish I could go back to the simpler times, where it was just you and me against the world.

When my dad first brought you home, and my baby eyes met you’re your puppy eyes, it was love at first sight. You were always there to play when my older brother left for school while I was stuck at home, being too young to participate in the stellar education system of my town. When no one had time to listen to my gibberish, I could always turn to you and pretend you understood. I like to think that you did.

It was obvious that you understood dinnertime because I could always find you lying down directly under my feet, waiting for the scraps of fat from the meat or the peas that were cooked to long. I can remember throwing a ball, or anything that I could get my hands on, and watching you sprint at it like you were racing a professional track horse.

To me, you were like a horse, large enough for me to try to ride, hair golden and about as long as mine, and slobber that always seemed to find its way out of your mouth and all over anything you came near. But when you reached that object that I threw, you would immediately bring it back to me, ready for me to toss the “anything” again.

Fetch never got old, until you did. As white started to form around your nose, your energy extremely decreased and you weren’t my up beat puppy anymore, but instead my loyal loving companion. Every day I came home from school, I still found you waiting for me at the door but instead of loud barks and spazzed-out jumps, you would be sitting, or laying patiently. But still it would put the same smile on my face.

Even when everyone seemed to be against me, because as a high school girl, everyone is out to get you, you weren’t. I could always count on you to put a smile on my face and I want to thank you for that.

After you left us to little doggy heaven, it took a few years but my family got another dog. She reminds me of you, looking identical to you, but with brown hair. She has the same loyal look in her eye as you did. When I come home from school now, I can hear her bark and watch her excitement through the window, but she won’t ever take your place.

You were my first best friend who taught me how to be loyal. Thank you for everything, and I miss you.