The Start of a Good-Bye

I can hardly believe that I haven't posted a single thing since last May. Believe it or not, I did ride my bicycle, but the 400K (252 miles) was my longest ride for 2010. Life happened, I changed jobs and had little time for such simple pleasures like cycling.

I wish life would settle down a bit, but life just happens. My wife and I learned about two weeks ago that our beloved Golden Retriever, Toby, who is 11 years old, has bone cancer. Toby developed a nasty limp, which we thought was related to foot surgery back near Christmas. Our vet took x-rays and gave us grave news instead. Bone cancer is very painful, and spreads quickly. At 11 years of age, we don't have good long term options. Toby may have a few months left, and Rose Ann and I have already been shedding tears for this precious gift from God.

Toby is comfortable but on strong pain killers each day. His smile and loving spirit are still with us. He wants to play, chase squirrels and snuggle up in our laps. A 90 pound lap dog is one of the joys of my life.

We both feel a great loss already. I can only imagine how difficult it will be when we have our final farewell and Toby is gone. We have decided to bury Toby in a pet cemetery not too far from home. I just could not think of abandoning him at the vets office when he is gone. I know we do this more for us than for him. It will be a place we can go and visit and talk until the pain passes. Eventually it will be a place to go and remember what a great companion he was. it will always be a place to honor our love for him.

We will only be able to bury his body. His spirit, everything that makes him the wonderful dog he is can not be buried. Toby was, is and will always be a precious gift from God. I pray that the joyous and loving personality that is Toby will live on and one day, when my wife and I pass from this life into the next, Toby will be waiting there with his tail wagging as he runs up to greet us.