Big Beau

July 17, 2013

Last night my great friend, Beau died suddenly and left an inexplicable abyss in my heart. Now I do not have my wiry buddy to sleep with while wrestling for the covers, while having a slumber party in Princeton, no one to try and “lay one on me” with an exuberant Tigger hello, no youthful Boxer to play with my Tyrus, no bouncing pal to crowd me, as I curl up on the hairy couch. I miss him already. How he maneuvered his way into the souls of many, with his antics and Joker face.

Our pets are not really ours, as a possession. They become a sounding board, someone to love on, hug and kiss with abandon, sans pouting or complaining, no hard feelings when we leave them behind to go to the store or on vacation, it is all the same to them. No necessity to apologize, buy dozens of roses or boxes of chocolate, that only seem to emphasize our guilt. 

Tears appear abruptly, taking me by surprise.  A small token of gratitude or tissue commercial leave me shaken and spent. Grief and loss roll around me in a fluid motion that resembles a promising kiss without a second date. I turn a corner and observe a half empty dish of specialty salmon flavored dog food on top of the cabinet or a fur-laced collar, abandoned tennis ball or vacant canine cushion. Jarring reactions call-in Beau’s chappy (happy and cheerful) face, all wiggles and big energy.

We mourn your loss and can only expect you are in the best place.