Thanksgivings: The Best Dog A Girl Ever Had

My Darling Adicus,

Very soon, too soon, I will have to say goodbye to you. I will see you again, but I’m not sure when.  Please understand that your Daddy and I both love you very, very much. We both know that you are the best dog in the whole world, and it is our love and pride that motivate us to do what is best for you whether it is easy for us or not. This isn’t easy for me, not at all. The last thing in the world I want to do is say goodbye to you, but Mama and Daddy aren’t together anymore, and Daddy has more time for you. He can take you fishing, he can fetch you more. You deserve the best life we can make for you, and I’m consoled in knowing that you will have it.

The past few months have been precious to me. I did the very best I could to be the kind of Mama you deserve despite the fact that I’m not home much. That’s what it comes down to, my love: my best is not good enough for you. Not when your Daddy can do better. It’s not fair to any of us. So you’re going with your Daddy, and he will have the joy I’ve had for the past few months, and I will endure the pain and emptiness that he has endured. Our goal is that you not suffer any more than absolutely necessary, and I’m proud that we’ve done such a good job of it. You are going to be well loved and well cared for.

I want to tell you how grateful I am to have been your Mama.

Thank you for being such a good boy, for listening so well, for following the rules. Thank you for the times you didn’t follow the rules, because those were some of my best memories of our life together. Thank you for protecting me, for worrying about me when I was sad or sick or scared. Thank you for being such a good friend.

You’ve taught me leadership; how a leader carries themselves and how good leaders accept their status gracefully. Any doubt I had about my  maternal instincts and my capability to give a child the best part of myself is gone now, because you’ve given me the chance to see it in action.

I will miss you so very, very much. The kisses you cover me in when I come through the door. Your intelligence and witty humor. The tenderness and affection you give so freely. My heart breaks knowing that you won’t be here to lay your head in my lap or herd me into the kitchen to get your fetch ball. I will even miss fetch- throwing you the ball and cheering you on as you race after it and bring it back to me again, eyes bright and shining with hope that I’ll throw it again.

I’ll miss my co-pilot, the excitement you show over the slightest trip to the gas station, and the way you choke me with my seat belt when you’re trying to stick your head out the window. I’m grateful for our trips- the way you rest your chin on my armrest and lick my elbow till you drift off to sleep.

The cats will miss you too, I’m sure- your naps, your baths, and your sweet habit of breaking up their fights with the barn cats next door.

I’m grateful to you, my darling Adicus Badicus, for simply being the best dog a girl could ever have. You be good for your Daddy and go have the best life a dog can- one full of love and time and company and fetch and fishing. Mama will always love you, and she knows that she’ll bury her face in your fur again someday.

I love lilacs and avocados
Ukuleles and fireworks
And Woody Allen and walking in the snow
But you’ve got to know that

You’re the love of my life
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
From the moment I first saw you
The second that you were born
I knew that you were the love of my life
Quite simply the love of my life

I love Lucy and pumpernickel bread
The Statue Of Liberty and standing ovations
And falling into bed
But get it through your head that

You’re the love of my life
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
From the moment I first saw you
The second that you were born
I knew that you were the love of my life
Quite simply the love of my life

You can drive me crazy
You can drive me anywhere
Here are the keys
Just do as you please
It may not always be easy

But you’re the love of my life
My heart is riding on a runaway train
You are the love of my life
through all the pleasure and pain
From the moment I first saw you
I knew it right away
I knew that you were the love of my life
Simply the love of my life
You are the love
The great love of my life.

-Carly Simon “Love of My Life”