8 Is Not Enough

Well, I have been negligent in making this post about my "little boy". I didn't miss his special day for he and I (as is the custom for each of my "kids")on their birthdays to go with "dad" to Petsmart and pick out their presents. But, I have been lazy about posting for his special day-April 10. Where do 8 years go?? In a heart beat, it seems like yesterday that I traveled to Iowa, under the guise of "rescuing" mistreated Border Collies, all the while telling my sisters that I was going there to find homes for Border Collies. It wasn't too far from the truth as I was "finding" a home, or actually giving a home to this little guy. It was actually my aunt that sort of blew the whistle on me (and I only say that jokingly) as I had told her of my plan to bring "Remy" home. Unbeknownst to me, did I realize that she would speak to my sisters and ask..."did your brother get his puppy yet"? Only then did I realize that my "cover" was blown and the true story of why I went to Iowa came forth.
And life for this little guy (and me) wasn't without cause or incident for at 10 mos. did I fathom the trauma that we would endure together. For he developed a necrotic hip and after several hip surgeries and countless hrs of physical therapy did I understand the what it meant to be "joined at the hip". For, Remy became my "compadre", my "shadow", my "kemo sabe", my "amigo", and he became for me, my muse. For, I looked differently at him as I surely do now for what he had to endure for those seven months or so of surgery and rehabilitation. Sure, his dog sport career was cut short, but it gave me another perspective on the true meaning of what a dog does for me. He is here to give me unconditional love and my job is to be worthy of it...something I try to do each and every day of his life. I only hope that I have achieved a goal....that I have become as wonderful as Remy thinks I am.
I leave this quote for all to think about..."He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his leader. He will be yours faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion". Remy, I hope I have lived up to that for you.
Dad