Gabby: A Life Well Loved

You walked into my life one day
I remember that day very well-
A child, reading a favorite book
Her mom, tot brother in tow, appear
There is a strange dog here!

Of your home, our neighbors know not,
So a few days we decide to keep you safe -
Until your owner finds you again.
Freck was unsure of you those first days
And when no one claimed you
You become one of the family!

I didn’t know that my life would change
On that one fateful day you picked us
For that day I had met my soul mate.

Because you were oh so vocal
Mom decided to call you Gabby
I chose your middle name - Perdita
For the 101 Dalmatians I so loved.

As the years went by too fast
We became nearly inseparable
You were who I missed the most
When I stayed away from home.

I remember teaching you to come
If I ever took a fall, after learning
All about St. Bernard’s.
Once  I did fall off a chair I stood upon
And you ran up to me, my dutiful friend.

Teenage years arrived for me
You were there when the kids
I had always thought as friends
Decided we weren’t that at all.

At fifteen you were there
When I first experienced
The death of a loved one
When I cried into your fur
You hugged me back
In a way only you could.

My junior year of high school
We mourned together at the
Loss we shared over the death
Of our beloved Freckles Fluffball
Just five days before Christmas.

Two short months later, you and I
Welcomed in Jake the goat-dog.
You were none too thrilled about it
And now, even six years later
I can’t blame you one bit.

That following September
You let me know that,
Through our special connection
That your time was short.

The vet said that terrible month
That you had a congestive heart
She said she’s seen dogs come back
But You and I knew it wasn’t meant to be

The days grew short on us
You humored a worried me
And ate your pills with Smarties
I cried while I cleaned up after you,
And even more the night you wanted
To say good-bye to your favorite spots.

I carried you in that night
When you were too weak
To make it in yourself.

But the day you passed away,
We knew it the moment I awoke.
I whispered to hold on for me,
And after school that day
I found you had managed
To make it 20 feet to the hallway
I helped you back into our room
Where I then napped and you waited.

After dinner that Wednesday night
I skimmed a magazine next to you
When the time finally came.
I called Mom in and petted you,
Held you, and whispered to you
That I loved you and I would miss you.

It’s been five years since you left my life
And I’ve missed you all 1,826 days so far
Another 1,826 won’t diminish the fact
That I’ve never felt the connection
That you and I once shared
With another living being.

I think you’d like Zeus the pig-dog.
He loves me unconditionally
And I confess, I love him like a son.
But he’s no you, that’s for sure.

Today I plan on visiting you.
I’m sorry I don’t make it out there
As often as you deserve,
But Jake, Zeus and Color,
They visit you and Freckles
Just about every single day.

Gabby Perdita,
My dear soul mate,
The one that picked me,
I still love you.