The Absence of a Friend

I know sometimes it's hard enough to put yourself into someone else's heart when we are comparing human stories, so when it comes to animals it must be even harder. So I don't expect you to think long on this or shed a tear. But we lost our 11 1/2 year old dog this weekend.

We've had him since he was 7 weeks old so he's been a part of most of Mike's and my marriage. He lived with us in three different houses and was around for each of the kids' homecomings. And now every time I turn a corner or open a door I expect to see him or go to feed him and he's not there.

For a very sentimental person I don't have a lot of words, except that Gus will genuinely be missed. He had a kinder soul than most people I've met and a gentler way with kids than most adults I know too. Fortunately he had a great last 6 months - with a first and last trip to our family lake cabin, a summer spent at our parent's 85 acre property keeping my father in law company all the days long, a really memorable fall walk, and a recent outing to the beach.

Here's some of my favorite last pictures of him.