My Best Friend

Greetings to All:

I am sending this out as kind of a memorial to a friend that I lost on June 1st.....all 11 pounds of my 16 year old Chihuahua.  Now, I know that some of you, probably most, feel that these creatures are not REALLY a part of your family.  For those of us that do, including some very notable people, we grieve over the death of our animals.  Of course I pampered mine to the point that one friend told me that, if reincarnation were in the cards, she wanted to reincarnate as one of my dogs.  I have a female friend in parole that lost her dog.  Her grief was profound enough that she had to take a couple of days off.  Almost to a person, my co workers couldn't understand.  It was "only a dog" they said.  I found the insensitivity appalling.  They don't call them "Man's Best Friend" for nothing.  Anyway, my Lexi's death brought this old battle hardened Marine to his knees.  I never knew I had so many tears.  Anyway, I don't mind sharing this with you as "Just a Dog" was a big part of my life.  I picked her ashes up today.  And I hope that you will read and take to heart some of what is included below.  I don't feel too out of place sending this out.  I know that, if it hits the email lists of any of the retired guys that were K9 officers, retired their dogs and finally lost them, they may understand.

JUST A DOG

From time to time, people tell me,
"lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."
They don't understand the distance traveled,
the time spent, or the costs involved for
"just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come about with
"just a dog."
Many hours have passed and my only company was
"just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by
"just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness,
the gentle touch of "just a dog"
gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog,"
then you will probably understand phases
like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or
"just a promise."
"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence
of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and
patience that make me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" I will rise early,
take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog"
but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams
of the future, the fond memories of the past,
and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and
diverts my thoughts away from myself and the
worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that
it's not "just a dog"
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps
me from being "just a man."
So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog."
just smile, because they "just don't understand."

Semper Fidelis,
Gary N. Darby
http://darb1.blogspot.com