Sweet Charlie

This week I said goodbye to a dear friend. A friend from the beginning, the middle and the end. She kept me company during adolescent summers, amused me with her antics, acted as a protector when needed, and offered comfort in times of sorrow.

I first met her sixteen years ago. She came to me at a time of transition. My family had just lost our home, lived in and out of many housed during that time. We had just settled into a small house on a friend's ranch.Her arrival, along with our time at the ranch house proved to be one of healing for me, as would the rest of our time together.

My mom came home with puppies and the excitement of puppies overcame me. Upon first sight, I was unsure of the need for a puppy. It seems that Charlie had become ill during the mountain ride between the office and home. After a bath, my mind was quickly changed...

From that time on, we were unseperable as only a girl and a dog can be. She accompanied me on horse rides, summer days, vacations, holidays, and eventually moved to San Diego to live. We went for long walks in the neighborhood, getting to know many of the neighbors, took multiple car rides back and forth to visit my ailing Grandmother, sitting nearby as she took her last breath. During her last year, she began to lose her sight, hearing, and at the end her balance. With the loss of these, she remained her dignity and grace, her sweet disposition continued to prevail.

It was apparent that she didn't have much longer with us, so we took the weekend and spent time with her, offering many pets, bellyrubs, and treats. Last Monday, we took her to the vet knowing it was "time" and dreading every moment of it. The vet gave us the option to stay with her or leave. After having been such a friend and companion, how could I leave my dear friend to face this most important life event alone. We sat together, crocodile tears falling to the ground, and said our goodbyes. Until at last, my friend closed her eyes and was gone......