Goodbye to my best friend.

It's almost impossible for me to write this post. 

Tonight I went out with friends for a pint of

Guinness...or 3. Something I always love. My dad called

me and left a message. His words were simple.

"Kandi, call me when you can." My hear sank.

I could feel it. I knew my best friend had left me after 

15 years. 

I should explain how this miraculous creature came into our lives.

We had always had dogs growing up. But something would happen

during our many moves and they would change so we had to give

them to someone else who could better take care of them.

My mom got pissed and had enough. "No more dogs!"

She said it and meant it. 

One night, my dad was picking me up from practice.

I jumped in the truck and he said "I found something 

tonight." I looked over to see the smallest puppy ever.

Someone had put her in a box in the back of my dads truck

in the middle of the winter. 6 weeks old and too young to be 

away from her mother. My mom saw her and said "take her back"

My dad explained it was impossible and tried to find who put her there

but it remains a mystery. One that my mother still doesn't believe.

Me- I believe someone, somewhere knew she was meant for us.

My mother nursed her and she stayed.... For 15 years. She took

care of all of us. Lily used to call her "Nana" like from Peter

Pan because she personally tended to us.

She loved us. And we loved her. She was my dog and she knew it.

Winnie was having the best weekend. She went for 3 mile

walks like she always does. She met George and loved him.

She knew I was ok. And on Monday, I said goodbye

like always. On Tuesday, my mom said she wasn't looking

great. We all knew what was coming and she couldn't

live forever. 

This afternoon she wasn't feeling well and my dad took 

her to the vet. They said there was nothing they could do.

My dad held her as the end came. She came and went the

same way... with my dad by her side.

So at 8:30, when I returned that call, I knew what was

on the other end of that call. I wept in public, after 3 beers.

I clearly looked like that girl. Crying over an ex-boyfriend.

Nope- my dog.

To everyone that loved Winnie- I know she

loved you too. The most kind and beautiful being

I've ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. It's 

difficult to imagine my life and my home without her there.

But-she was happy. And she was loved. And she

went knowing this.

To anyone that has loved and lost an amazing

dog and best friend- I'm sorry. Dogs really are, a

 mans/woman's best\ friend.