Remembered...

There are moments in our lives that teach us things. There are moments in which we must endure hurt and pain and heartache and there are moments when we must enjoy it and take it all in. Today was one of tears and a heartache deep inside that I just couldn't shake. Today was a day that I will never forget, a day in which I've never experienced loss like this. And even here tonight, I can't help but shed a few tears for a dog that has been there in my life since moving here to the States. And here tonight, so many miles away from where he passed, I still can't seem to find strength to realize that he really is gone.

I've never had to deal with loss like this, not really. I've never lost someone or something so close to me and it's something that I guess you never really understand until it happens to you, until you feel that heart-wrenching pain, until you look at old pictures and it makes you cry. I spent the last hour looking at all my old photos of our dear Mikey, photos of us all together, photos of him curled up next to his sister, photos that at the time they were taken felt like unnecessary, cute little snapshots of a moment that didn't mean much at the time. But tonight, those snapshots of moments mean the world, tonight they make me realize how precious our lives are and how much people and animals and things in our lives really do mean and how much we take for granted.

And so, tonight, please take a moment for us all, in remembrance of a great dog, of a friend and family member. Please take a moment for everyone who's ever lost someone, who's lost a pet. Take a moment and appreciate all that we have in our lives. And somewhere out there tonight, Mikey is playing in Heaven, he's looking down on us and smiling with his adorable little brown eyebrows, now and for always. Rest in peace boy, you will always be remembered and greatly missed by the family that deeply loved you.