Will B.

I have said it on more than one occasion: If you don’t love dogs, we cannot be friends. Whether you like dogs or not tells me everything I need to know about your personality. Not everyone has to be friends and it does not mean I would not be nice to you or civil, it just means personalities would never mesh. It’s a strong position to take but it’s one I don’t regret. Sometimes dogs are even better than people.

My buddy Jack was run over and killed last night and I struggled on the decision to write about it. But believe it or not, everything I write about is to help others or relay a message or even convey a funny story. Sometimes – and probably most times – if I am honest, writing helps me sound out what is in my head and deal with in some way. If it helps others that makes me even happier. Sometimes relating hard thoughts, emotions and memories can really help others because it lets them know they are not the only one going through this, and that with time, things will usually get better if we let them. The person who hit Jack did not even bother to come knock on the door or at least check on him. I know they knew they hit him because I could hear the yelp and thud from inside the house and my house does not sit on the road. I even heard the loud-sounding truck slow and almost come to a stop before continuing down the road. I am not mad at the person who hit my Jack - he had a habit of racing cars in the bar ditch. Rather, I am sad that the person did not have enough integrity or heart to check on Jack or at least have the common decency to come knock on the door. I forgive the person who hit Jack because I am forgiven and Jesus commands us to forgive others as he has forgiven us. I don’t even begrudge the person. I spent an hour crying, then pulled myself up and dug a hole under a tree where the lilies spring up every year and laid my faithful and close friend to rest. I will forever miss my buddy.

Jack was a blond lab, about 2 years old or so and so full of life and happiness. I have never been as close to a dog as I was to him. Whenever I turned he was always under foot. When I watched TV he had to sit as close to me as possible. He loved to play fetch and would always bring me his ball when he was ready. He loved zoomies. He loved to put his paws on my shoulders if I kneeled and give hugs. He loved belly rubs and napping in the sun. He loved racing cars in the bar ditch. He always drove with me to Oklahoma and loved the water. He would come home from playing in the stock ponds covered in mud or soaking wet. He never failed, not even once, to cheer me up when I was feeling blue, and words fail me on just how amazing this distinguished gentleman was. This is Will B saying I hope you have a big stock pond to play with in heaven and a warm field to nap in. I will miss you eternally, my friend.