What a dog! Whenever I tell people about Jake, I tell them that he is the dog I always dreamed of having! So true! In high school I heard a song called, "Feed Jake." The chorus went:
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
Feed Jake
He's been a good dog
My best friend right through it all
If I die before I wake
Feed Jake
The first time I heard that song, I knew that some day I would have a big yellow lab named Jake. And for the past 12 years I have.
He was the best! He was so loyal and so dear to me. His big ole tale would just wag and his eyes would light up whenever we would come out the door or down the driveway. When he was happy his ears would perk up and kind of fold back. . . that was my favorite! Jake was best known in the summer for rolling over onto his back the second anyone walked up to him so that he could get a good belly rub.
Jake was the best! He was our "fat ole man." That's what we called him. He didn't get around very well and he slept a lot, but no matter how he was feeling, if he heard me say his name, he would give a little wag of his tale. He was the stinkiest dog ever (and maybe the fattest)! But he was the sweetest!
It is so amazing to me how happy a dog can make you. There is just something about them. Jake made me so happy for so long. . . .
And now I'm so sad. He died today and I am heart broken. I hurt deep inside. I've known for a while that this day was right around the corner, but that doesn't stop the hurt. He was family for 12 years. We got him when Hays was one and Carolin was living with us. He's been around as Braner Party of three became four and five and six and then seven. We have so many memories with Jake. He was family and now it is so hard that our family doesn't have him anymore. I know this wound will heal, but for today I'm just going to let myself be sad (and maybe tomorrow and maybe for a few mornings when I wake up and he isn't lying by the door and a few afternoons when I drive into the driveway and I don't have to go uber slow because it would take him so long to get up and get out of the way).
It was terrible watching the kids say goodbye. Maggie and Dax just loved on him and took a zillion pictures of him and then they curled up in my arms in Dax's bed and we all cried. Dax said, "he was the highlight of my life." I didn't think it would be as hard to watch them as it was. Tiki asked if there was any sad music he could listen to on his iPod. Jake has been around since before they were even born. It is going to be a hard adjustment. My little dears. Gosh, saying good-bye was the worst!
We love you Jake! You were the best dog ever!
Jake
2000-2012
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