R.I.P. Lucy

You were born 11 years ago...and a Christmas gift to my lovely bride.

A priceless addition to our new home.

I swore we wouldn't spoil you but within days, you were sleeping in our room.

And you had become absolutely entangled in our lives. You were our "child" before we had children.

You were our best friend. Always there at the end of the day with that goofy grin on your adorable, crooked face.

Yes, you destroyed the laundry room. Yes, you ate momma's eyeglasses...and a pair of scissors...and countless toys, hairbrushes, toothbrushes.

You became all too familiar with the "cone of shame."

You tormented the cat. (And I was okay with that!)

You learned to catch a frisbee. I still don't know how you jumped so high, with that girth!

You never really learned that WE were the ones taking YOU on a walk!

You disappeared while we were on vacation, and we spent 13 days scouring the tiny towns of Westcliffe and Silvercliffe for you. And when we found you, it was like finding a prodigal child. We rejoiced. We cried. We celebrated.

You dressed as "superdog" for Halloween, but you were terrified everytime trick-or-treaters rang the doorbell.

You wrestled with me in the living room.

You loved to play "hide and seek" (though you got a little over-excited when you finally found us.)

You even learned how to play football, carrying the ball by the laces as you rambled past me before I could tackle you.

But you hid everytime daddy watched the Cowboys play.

You loved the snow. And popcorn. And beer. Let's be honest--anything edible (and some things non-edible) that fell on the floor.

You never did catch that squirrel that tormented you in the backyard.

Even as you aged, you never lost that "puppy-like" softness to your ears.

And when we did finally have kids, you took such good care of them. Even when they pulled your hair, threw toys at you and

poked.

poked.

poked.

You brought so much joy, Lucy.

You were part of our family.

And we will miss you terribly.

Rest in peace, sweet girl.