I haven’t written in forever. I’m hoping to start writing more again. Recently, my dog died. I had him from 10 weeks old until about 12 – he went with my ex during the divorce. I learned of his passing from a friend who saw it on my ex’s social media. That was a gut punch….. my ex should’ve told me. I wrote this on a flight from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Hanoi, Vietnam (3 days after Kobe’s death).

I’ve already been mourning you for over a year. 
A best friend in my life that I’ve forever held dear
I often imagined how sweet our reunion would be
As I reassured myself that you’d remember me. 

I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t be back in time
And that I might not be able to still call you mine
Your new family didn’t want you to remember I was yours 
They only mentioned me with profanity and slammed doors

“Mommy mommy mommy” your tail wag would scream
You’d run into my arms and it would feel like a dream
Kisses all over my face as I laughed in a familiar way
You’d struggle to decide if you wanted to cuddle or play

Racing around you’d hunt to find your preferred toy
You’d bring it to me and hear “you’re such a good boy”
Upside down you’d flip and beg me to give you belly rubs
While secretly hoping for a reward from the treat tub

I believe you’re now part of my Angel tribe in the sky
But it doesn’t stop my heart ache or my need to cry
In the best moments of my past you were always there
Also in the moments when my heart was full of despair

Perhaps among the saddest things in losing you at last
Is also saying goodbye to shared memories from the past
Thoughts of the three of us and the happy times we had
So much love shared between us before it turned bad

I reached out to honor you and express care and concern
I was met with cold indifference… a lesson to learn
I must bury the loving memories and the painful ones too
Cut the final tie to my old story and step into the new

Goodbye my sweet angel pup, thank you for all your love
I know you’re still with me cheering me on from above
May your days always be fetch with your favorite frisbee 
And a never ending supply of fluffy grass to roam free