Missing Autumn

i had a dog named autumn. she was my friend for seven and a half years. she died on september 12, 2007, and i think i'm still in shock. to tell you the truth, i never expected her to leave me. she was an amazing dog- more than just a dog- a person. with the deepest, searching eyes and ability to express emotion beyond what you expect.

i'm not deifying her because she's dead. she really was that cool.



she had a playful energy that was very loving, and her 80 lb. stature never got in the way of her gentleness. what can i really say here? i knew her. i knew her personality, her preferences, her weird quirks. i dreamt last night she was in my arms, and i sneezed in her face the way she always used to do when she wanted to play or express love. she sneezed back, but i realized she was only with me in dreams. that i couldn't really touch her.

when she was in the hospital the day before she died, they let me lay on the floor next to her kennel, with the gate open. she had all these tubes everywhere, and she was quite tired, but still she offered me her belly, let me massage her paws.

i miss her terribly. but i am so grateful that i ever knew her at all.

- teague