4 Nov 2008

Uncle Parker is gone.  I knew something was up.  Our human-dad was awake most of the night.  I heard him moving around and whispering words to Uncle Parker all night long.  In the morning when our human-dad came to let me out, instead of running to the back door I ran in to see Uncle Parker.  He was laying on our human-dad's bed resting.  He seemed very tired.  I asked him if he was OK.  He said no, that his leg hurt very much and that it was time for him to go away.  I asked if I could come along.  Uncle Parker said that I could not come along.  He said that a very sad time was about to begin for our human-dad, and that now was the time when I needed to work really really hard to try to make him happy and to be his special new dog.  I promised Uncle Parker that I would do my very best.  Then I went outside to pee.

Uncle Parker got a really good breakfast that morning.  I know he liked it cause he gobbled it all up.  Our human-dad took Uncle Parker's bed out to the Magic Legs and made a nice softie bed ready.  Then he came back inside.  He brought me in to be with Uncle Parker one more time.  I told Uncle Parker that I didn't want him to go, that I wanted to hear the stories of his great adventures at dog shows and while hiking.  Uncle Parker said that he couldn't hold on any more.  He said he gave us every minute that he could, but that the pain in his leg was just too much now.  He told me to study and train hard, and love our human-dad just as hard as I could.  And soon enough we would be making our own adventures hiking and at dog shows.  Then Uncle Parker gave me a last big lick on my face.  Our human-dad had lots of water coming from his eyes, and Uncle Parker was licking the water.  Uncle Parker struggled off the bed and on to his feet, then went out the door to the magic legs.  Our human-dad put me in my bed, and I cried myself to sleep.  Good-bye Uncle Parker.  I love you.

Later - our human-dad came home.  He let me out of my bed to go outside.  But I didn't go outside.  I sat by his feet and touched my paw on his leg.  He knelt down and hugged me, his eyes were dripping water again and his body was shaking.  I didn't know what else to do, so I just licked his face all over like I saw Uncle Parker do.  Our human-dad squeezed me even tighter.  Then we walked outside together.  I could tell this was a very bad time for our human-dad.  No - MY human-dad now.  But I promised Uncle Parker I would work hard to make him love me.  So I guess it is time to get started.