Our beloved “litl” Indy was put to sleep last night. Muscular skeletal issues and a burst stomach cancer finally took their toll on his body. There was palliative treatment that would had let him stay with us a little longer; the time had come for Indy to depart. As was true to his character, he ate and drank even near the end which brought us some solace. Indy was our faithful companion, always in a good mood, happy to see us, and welcomed us whenever we came home. Each morning he greeted me. When I changed out of my nightgown, he greeted me again. He did this only for me. I called him my little gentleman. When Mario and I went for a walk, or if we did so as a family, he would always look for me. If I fell behind, he would stop and wait. Again, he did this for me alone. I remember my childhood dog who was my favorite, and I would tell my children that as much as I love Indy, Brandy was my favorite. As the years went by, that began to change. The more we spend with someone, the more time we have to become endeared. We will never forget our little friend. Even this morning I had to stop myself several times from filling his empty bowl with water. As with anyone we love, the memories keep flooding our minds. As time goes by it will become easier to live with the void – that ever present reminder that something, someone, is missing – but today I shall tear up and be filled with gratitude to God for His wonderful family gift which we enjoyed for 14 years. When Mario is back in the office on Monday, and Daniel, working in the family room, and Joseph, practicing or writing music, I shall be remembering my special companion whose attentive look and desire to please always made the difficult times a little easier to bear.
