I will always remember your laughing eyes. How you thought you should get a cookie just for going to the back door or when someone called you "good boy." I loved how you would flop down on your side, kick out your legs, rub your nose on the carpet, and make strange sounds when you were content. I'm sorry I laughed so hard at your growl/sneeze when I offered hot sauce in jest. You had a wonderful sense of humor. I admired your independence. You would never lie on my bed if I were going to sleep, but instead joined me there in the mornings to play when I was awake. I remember how you loved to lie in the yard alone and meditate on the world around you. The rain you never minded, and you loved being toweled off when you came back into the house wet. You rarely needed a leash. Reservedly friendly to strangers, confident and outgoing with your own kind, and loyal to the permanent people in your life. You had an excellent nature. However, you distrusted the pool man and despised the UPS man and the sound of his truck. You traveled everywhere with me. Almost daily you rode in the back seat of my car. I miss your nose prints on the windows. You had that amusing habit of barking viciously--even at me--when someone tapped the glass of the car window from outside. Loud voices and thunder were the only things that frightened you. You would lick my nose to wake me up during storms so I could be there for you and comfort you. Your favorite game was "Hide the Cookie." You would follow me around the apartment and watch me hide your cookies. Then we would go back into the living room where you would sit in front of me, tail wagging and eyes dancing, and wait for the signal before you would leap up and dash off to retrieve your treats. Sometimes I had to help you remember where we hid them all! Chasing balls only interested you for a short time. You preferred tossing around squeaky toys in the shape of round, furry things, or Mom's empty, plastic flower pots in the yard. Your greatest joy was to try and chase down and dig up ground squirrels. I doubt the squirrels were too thrilled. When I took you down to the tide pools, you ran from pool to pool trying to pounce on the little crabs that were too fast for you. Your father was your brother, but this didn't seem to have any ill effect on you at all. I was told you were part chow. More likely, you were part malamute, or collie, or shepard, or more. You were altogether beautiful. You considered the baths at the O.B. Dog Wash a necessary evil, but I believe you enjoyed them more than you let on. I will always remember seeing you run ahead of me down the beach holding the end of a long rope of kelp in your mouth, looking back at me and laughing as I held the other end and you pulled me along after you. I will always remember the smell of your fine, black fur which always smelled clean, never like dog. I will remember with a smile how on Saturday and Sunday mornings you always led me into Jungle Java for my latte and your cookie. I would read my magazine and you would lie on your rug and watch the people come and go. And I will always remember what it felt like to watch you lay down your head and close your eyes for the last time. I shall never forget you--my boy, my friend, my Yapka. ***The day I drove to pick up your ashes, this song played on the radio. I knew then that you were okay, and that you would be with me always... "Wherever You Will Go" -- So lately, been wondering who will be there to take my place? When I'm gone, you'll need love to light the shadows on your face. If a greater wave shall fall, and fall upon us all, and between the sand and stone could you make it on your own? If I could, then I would, I'll go wherever you will go. Way up high or down low, I'll go wherever you will go. And maybe I'll find out a way to make it back someday, to watch you, to guide you, through the darkest of your days. If a great wave shall fall, it will fall upon us all. Well I hope there's someone out there who can bring me back to you. If I could, then I would, I'll go wherever you will go. Way up high or down low, I'll go wherever you will go. Run away with my heart, run away with my hope, run away with my love. I know now, just quite how my life and love might still go on. In your heart, in your mind, I'll stay with you for all of time. ***Songwriters: BAND, ALEX / KAMIN, AARON KAMM / HUTTERER, OLIVER

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Yapka's People Parent(s), Rebecca, would appreciate knowing you have visited their Yapka's Memorial Residency.

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