The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us that for every thing under heaven there is a time, a place and a purpose. In our hectic 21st century world sometimes we tend to lose sight of this; however the passing of my close friend and companion Sebastian has reminded me, albeit painfully, of its truth, and reminds me also that we should cherish each day of life with which we share with those with whom we have established that special personal bond. At first I thought that the pain of Sebastian's passing would last forever, as I could only focus on his death, without appreciating and celebrating his life. I realize now that Sebastian was brought to us by an angel who knew what we needed at a certain time in our lives, and that his purpose was only to bring joy and a sense of fulfillment to our lives. Yes, there is a time for everything under heaven. But having completed his purpose, it was time for him to move on, and that same angel who brought him into Camille and my lives, now returned to bring Sebastian across that Rainbow Bridge where he could frolic with others of his kind, while keeping an eye on us. And although Sebastian could not speak, he knew how to let us know what he needed and when we needed it, and that his job was to make that happen.

A few months ago Sebastian and I stared into each others eyes and in his own way he let me know that he was reaching an age when he was not only an elder statesman, but that his time was drawing near. His eyes told me how he appreciated all that we had done to make his life one of joy, simply be being there for us. From that moment on I began to call him "The Old Man". Although Sebastian was at the time only slightly more than nine years of age, this is considered old for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, as due to their breeding each inherits many common genetic physical challenges. One of these is heart disease, which can often be detected at a young age in the form of a heart murmur, which was detected in Sebastian when he was only seven months of age.

Yes, Sebastian and I now shared a new bond, and that was age and the limitations that it brings. Where at one time when I would come home from working late, and take Sebastian and his three "sisters" off our bed to go out for a brief walk before retiring for the night, Sebastian would leap from the bed and run for the door, now instead he would wait until I took his sisters off the bed and then took into my eyes and lay on his back for me to rub his tummy and then he would roll over to let me carry him off the bed. I would pick him up and feel that his heart seemed to be pounding harder than usual. Each time I would due this I found myself giving him a hug, and in my heart I knew our days together were numbered, although I did not understand why I sensed this.

When Sebastian was young, he always laid at my feet on the bed, even when we watched television, but suddenly I found that when I would leave the bed, Sebastian would lay down in the spot where I slept, and instead of curling up as a dog would, be stretched out like a person. Each night as I lay there watching TV, I found myself half off the bed with Sebastian pushing up against me. Then when it was time for me to go to sleep, he would move to my feet. The three girls, Gabriella, Scarlett and Star would each have their own spot on the bed, but Sebastian was always with me (unless he decided he wanted to bother Camille and lick her until she awoke). In the days since his passing, I found myself lying in bed watching TV hanging half off the bed as though Sebastian was still there next to me. In fact, I felt his spirit remain and I was reluctant to disturb him, as when he was alive.

After much sorrow, holding back the tears (as big boys and grown men don't cry) I now realize that Sebastian left a special gift, and that is the memories that Camille and I share of his blessing to us.

The last thing a pet dog wants is to show his or her owner that they are suffering or that they are dying, yet they know. The first sign is when the stop eating. Sebastian stopped eating three weeks before he died and Camille knew something was wrong and we brought him to Dr. Steve. Sebastian was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, and then it was learned that his kidney was enlarged and soon that he had a mass in his intestine which was believed to have been cancerous. But despite this Sebastian would run around the yard barking at people walking by on the other side of the fence, and for some strange reason he would run and run around the property until he was exhausted. At the time the weather was getting warmer and this seemed strange for a dog with heart disease. Then he would tire and sometimes need to be carried up the stairs.

Soon Sebastian's energy seemed to fade and he began to weaken. We began feeding him anything that we could to give him the nutrition that he needed to hopefully fight off this ailment, but his prognosis was not good and it went from 3 months to two years, to only three months if he was lucky. I for one lived in denial and refused to accept that he would not fight off whatever this was, and that he would be with us another two years.

On Saturday, June 11, I remained home from a family function to stay with Sebastian. To my surprise and delight, he ate an entire portion of dry food (which he had not touched in three weeks) plus other food. This gave me hope that he was possibly fighting whatever was attacking his system and after he ate I took our four Cavvies (or children) out for a walk. To my further surprise he ran down the stairs on our deck pulling me as he had not done in a very long time, and while in the yard he began to stand on his hind legs and bark and seemed to be "his old self" as though nothing was ever wrong. I removed his lead and he ran and ran and ran, and just like Forest Gump, I yelled "Run Sebastian, Run!". But then he tired and I carried him up the stairs. His heart was pounding and somehow in my heart I knew it was his "last hurrah". Somehow, Sebastian felt that he needed to make me think that he was well again, although I know that it was all an act. No one can convince me that dogs are not smarter than people.

Once we got inside I called Camille and let her know that Sebastian was recovering, but Camille knew and said not to get my hopes up. Sure enough, that evening, Sebastian's breathing became labored and his heart pounded harder than ever. I knew he had done it all for me, so I had a that sight to remember him by.

The next morning, Sebastian refused to eat and he was gasping for air. We knew it was time and felt the best thing to do for him to relieve his suffering was to find an emergency hospital who would put him down on a Sunday so he did not suffer, as our other dog Gizmo had suffered. I called our son and daughter at 0952 to tell her to come over and say their last goodbye to Sebastian. I had left something in my office that I knew I would need and left the house at approximately 1015. Apparently, Sebastian knew his time had come and he, like many other pets have been known to do, found himself a spot where he could not be seen in the yard, and just lay down, waiting for the end to come, hoping that no one would find him until it was over. But my son Andy did find him and carried him inside. Driving home my phone rang at 1048 and all I could hear was screaming. I raced home as fast as I could, only to walk in and find Sebastian in Camille's arms with foam coming out of his mouth. My son Andy touched his leg and Sebastian gave one last involuntary jerk and then remained motionless with his eyes open. His heart beat no more.

Enough sadness, it is time to celebrate Sebastian's life.

Although we did not know it at the time, the angel from the Rainbow Bridge brought to Sebastian's real mother the spirit of a very special dog, especially for us, and he was born on October 18, 2001 at a time when our Springer Spaniel, Gizmo, was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. Although our vet Steve tried his best to help Gizzy recover, I watched Gizmo lie by his water bowl unable to move all day on Sunday, November 11, 2001, which was Veteran's Day. It was the 11th day, f the 11th month of the year. We stayed with Gizmo that entire day, watching him helplessly, and finally at 0900 on the 12th, took him to the vet to put him to sleep so he would suffer no more. Notice that on the 11th day of November we watched Gizmo suffer while on the 11th day of the month Sebastian tried to fool me into thinking he was recovering, and on the 12th day of the month they both passed away, and where Gizomo left us in 2001, Sebastian left in 2011. I have not yet figured out what this means, but I for one do not believe in coincidence and that every time has a meaning.

That angel from the Rainbow Bridge, knew that once Gizmo was gone that we would need another furry companion to transfer our love to, and he to us, and so Sebastian was waiting for us, although we did not know it at the time. Our grieving for Gizmo was interrupted almost immediately after returning home from the Vet, as at 0916 a flight from Kennedy airport on which our friend was a passenger, crashed in Jamaica Bay Queens shortly after takeoff. The remainder of our day, and the days that followed, were occupied by the loss of our friend and consoling his wife.

Soon thereafter however Camille came across information of a breed of dog that she simply fell in love with, and that was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Her research taught us that this breed is plagued by numerous genetic defects and their average life span was only 9-10 years. A friend of ours called to say she saw an ad that CKCS puppies were available from a breeder north of where we lived. I was against going to visit the puppies as I knew that this only meant that we would someday have to experience another loss as we had with Gizmo, but Camille insisted that we go. When we got there we saw the house filled with Cavalier dogs and puppies, and one took an instant liking to Camille. That dog of course went home with us that night and Camille named him Sebastian, as he had a regal appearance about him. As we drove home in the storm, Sebastian lay quietly in Camille's lap, and so began our nine years and 8 month journey with Sebastian.

Sebastian was special alright. As a puppy he warmed everyone's heart. I taught Sebastian how to box as a puppy and he and I would play box for hours. . I remember during his first Christmas we were so afraid that he would knock down the tree, but he was a good dog, but he was excited when it came time to open his presents.

He became my company mascot and I put his photo on our advertising cards and built an ad campaign around him. That winter there was a lot of snow, and we would shovel out an area in our front yard where he could be walked, and every morning as I walked him outside, the children getting on the bus would see us and wave to Sebastian. He was so small he would sometimes be buried in the snow.

Sebastian house trained quickly and because he was so smart, Camille brought him for obedience and agility training. He learned quickly and when he would run and jump he would make you proud as he was certainly regal. Funny, this past Sunday as he ran for me in the yard, he was just as regal.

Sometimes Sebastian would come to my office and he would just play with his toys while I worked. He just wanted to be near us all the time.

But then as Sebastian grew older we met a new breeder who loved animals, with whom we became close. It is from her that when we felt that Sebastian needed a companion, that we brought home Gabriella. A tri color Cavalier. Now we had Sebastian, who was blenheim (tan and white) and Gabriella who was black with brown eyebrows and some white mixed in. Sebastian and Gabby took to each other right away, but Gabby knew who the alpha dog was, but she is such a lazy lap dog that she never cared to be boss. He just wants to be petted and loved, but often times only wants to be left alone. When Gabby was only a pup we went to Petsmart and there was a photographer with props. He put Gabby inside a mailbox because she was so small, and Sebastian in a little wagon fror the photo shoot. As I write this I am looking at that photo of Sebastian sitting so proudly and regal in the wagon. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and looked deep into your soul with those big brown eyes.

Soon we felt that Sebastian needed another girl to add to his harem so we called our breeder, Kathy, and asked if she was breeding and she said he had a Ruby Cavalier available, but her father was of Italian stock and she would be a strong dog.

Sebastian was a good brother to the two girls, and even though Scarlett (our Ruby) can be a bit pushy at times, Sebastian seemed to always look after his sisters. Two years ago we rescued Star, who is a small tri color Cavalier, who suffers from chronic
fly catching syndrome. Scarlett is like her mother, but Sebastian was always the man of the house.

For 9 ½ years Sebastian showed us nothing but total loyalty and unconditional love. He was obedient and a joy to be with, and it seemed the only thing he needed was to know that he was part of our lives, and that he lived to make us happy.

Losing Sebastian was painful. I have experienced much death and suffering in my life from an early age, and grieved the loss of many family members and close friends, but the pain of knowing that Sebastian is with us no more is in many respects as much if not more heart wrenching than the loss persons close to me. Yet I learned something from Sebastian that I never realized before, and that is that there is a time and purpose for everything and everybody in our lives. Sebastian was brought to us by an angel when we needed him most, and now he is needed elsewhere and, although I don't yet understand why, his mission with us is now complete.

I now wonder if there is life after what we know as death, but that like a rose garden, death is only a temporary dormancy where we move on from one life to the next, and that our spirit never dies but only awaits to be reborn in a time and place where a new mission awaits. Maybe Sebastian's time with is was completed only so that his spirit can be reborn so that he can bring joy and happiness to someone else, just as he did us.

Semper Fi Sebastian, mission accomplished. Your spirit will live forever in our souls.