I want you to know you are the best dog ever. You were so
much more than my pet. You and I went through so much these past 14 ½ years
that I am not sure if my heart will ever be whole again. You were the first
reason anyone called me Mom. You taught me how to love someone else more than
myself. You gave me your unconditional love and never judged me. Even when we
were apart, the thought of you never failed to make me smile. You made me a
better person.
I know that I have to let you go now and in my head I know
it was the right thing to do, but getting my heart to understand that is really
challenging. There are so many memories that I don’t ever want to forget…
Like how
much you loved the lake in Kansas. You had so many friends there and to watch
you run free with all the other dogs was so much fun.
When we
tried to take you on a canoe ride when you were a puppy and you were so excited
you stood up and we flipped over! We were all soaking wet but the afternoon
spent on the river’s edge drying off was one of the best days ever.
When we
moved back to California and you were a little upset so you kept licking holes
in the walls. To this day I am not sure how you managed it, but I know fixing
those suckers was not an easy task!
Taking you
hiking all over this country. You were always up for a good hike no matter how
far, high or long. You were a trooper that would go anywhere we went.
Being my
first and best running partner. You were a major reason why I started to run
and you were the best partner. You were fine with whatever pace I set and
stayed right beside me.
When you
watched over me when I was pregnant with the girl. Those 4 months of bed rest
it was just you and me all day every day and you never left my side. You
watched over me and were there for me when I needed someone to lean on. You
knew I needed you and I don’t know if I ever thanked you enough.
You
loved the water. You tried to eat the ocean waves and ride the surf. You were our
first swimmer! We could never keep you
out of the pool and on hot days we always knew you could be found lounging on
the first pool step.
You
always loved to walk yourself. You would take the lead away from me and proudly
walk with it in your mouth. You knew you could do a much better job at it than
I ever could!
You were
the smartest dog and I know you understood every word I ever said to you. Your
eyes were the window to your soul and in them was so much kindness and
compassion. Your eyebrows gave us the words you could never say. How you could
cock one eyebrow and quickly switch to the other never got old and always made
me smile.
There
will never be another smile like yours. Your whole face lit up when you smiled
and there was no mistaking how happy you were. I will miss your smile.
I could go on for pages and pages of all the wonderful
memories, but these are just a few that I never want to forget.
Louie, please know you were loved. Please know that you will
forever be in our hearts and souls. Please know that the gifts you gave we could
never repay. I know I am a better mom, friend, and person because of you. I
know that we never deserved such an awesome dog, but I thank God every day that
he put you in our lives.
Love you Louie, forever and always.
Louis de Gumper
October 21, 1998 - May 21, 2013
AKA:
Louie, Lou Lou, Lump, Lumpie, Gumper, Lou Dog, and simply The Best!
