Good Bye Old Friend

Our family picture 2004 (The kids insisted that Cruiser be in the picture. I'm so grateful that he was.)

 Seven and a half years ago, our nephew (cousin) Greg called up and asked if we wanted a puppy. His two dogs had parented the cutest little golden fluffs of hair that have ever been seen. One of them was a runt and easily captured the heart of all Greg's family. They didn't want him to go. An easy solution was to give the little guy to us and then he would still be part of the family.


I don't remember really anticipating that we would get a dog anytime soon. We had a cat and that was enough for me. I had grown up in a family that was never allowed to have pets. I didn't know how to take care of a dog. But, how could you say no to that little guy or to that cute Greg? So, Cruiser entered our life. As he grew from puppy to full-grown Golden Retriever, we watched how he became more and more part of the family. He had more hair than a person could imagine. His tail wagged so hard that sometimes we thought he would break a person's leg. (You've heard that saying, "The tail that wags the dog." That was Cruiser.)  He spread out on the kitchen floor and made it almost impossible to cook a meal. He stood under the kitchen table at meal times (even when company was over) hoping for a morsel of "people food." He curled up next to you when you'd sit on the floor and want his belly rubbed. He slept with Collin for years when he was afraid to sleep alone. He lived in the house, just like the other kids, and thought he was a human. He easily befriended anyone, young and old, who visited the house, even those who didn't like dogs. When he went on walks he always allowed everyone to pet him. He gently took food from your hand and NEVER!!! growled at people. When Katy took him to school last year for a speech, calls of "Cruiser" were heard up and down the hallways from students and teachers.  I don't know if any other dog in the world has been more loved than him. In return, Cruiser loved his people even more.

Last summer, Cruiser experienced his first Grand Mal seizure. It was scary. The vet told us that it could be just a coincidence or it could be a sign of things to come. After a few changes in diet and a round of medication he didn't experience anymore for some time. Then it happened again. It didn't seem to be coincidence anymore. Recently the seizures became more violent and came more often. New meds just weren't helping. Until finally he was having so many that they were making him disoriented. A decision had to be made. So on Friday, August 13, we took him to the vet to be put to sleep. We said goodbye to possibly our dearest, most devoted friend and family member. Our hearts have been broken ever since.

I'm sure that within time we will stop crying and we will get a new dog to fill the space that Cruiser left in our home and in our family. But, no other dog will ever fill the space in our hearts that a large, hairy, lovable, kind Cruiser has occupied. We love him so and miss him even more.

Cruiser with Trent and my nephew Hunter on July 24th

Life is Good - even if your heart is weeping and tears are streaming!