for Moose

           "Dogs lives are too short, their only fault, really."

                                       ~Carlotta Monterey O’Neill

Moose, your life was far too short, and there is no one who will argue.  We will never now the big ol’ bulldog you were supposed to grow into.  We will never know if chewing shoes would be your thing, or a stuffed rabbit, or your grandma Tredwell’s chiles rellenos you went nuts for.  As far as puppies go, you were tops–you played with all of your being, for at least a half hour before you were so pooped you needed a lie-down.  I dare to say that there is not one person who laid eyes on you and didn’t go weak in the knees, or hear your name and have the same reaction "moooooooooooooooooose!"  Miss Caroline should have been able to grow up with you, her canine cousin, your grams should have been able to have you for sleepovers, and Auntie Sue should have been able to feed you key lime pie from her own spoon.  It breaks my heart that when we think of you it will be in terms of "should haves".

I have been searching my soul for some cosmic reason why you should be gone, why my Tim and Kate have to suffer another heartbreaking loss after they have already borne more than their share this year.  You, Moose, were the brightest spot in their lives, the "win for their team", their boy.   And you were loved, Moosie, you were loved with such a greatness, such tenderness, so completely by Tim and Kate, I have a hard time imaging that you could have been loved more had you lived to be 20. But it would have been more fair if Tim and Kate had been able to find that out.

This much I know for sure, sweet Moose, you will be missed every moment, and though you were part of our family for only a few short months, you are leaving your pawprints etched deep in our hearts.