Did You Know?
Jeffrey Burcham

Did you know?
On that day in May 2006, when you were dropped off in front of me near our house, did you know it then?
Did you know?
In August 2006 when you had Parvo and we got through it together, did you know it then?
Did you know?
When you and your new mommy Gizmo chased squirrels while I watched, did you know it then?
Did you know?
All those times you agitated Sparkle and I would scold you, did you know it then?
Did you know?
When you chewed Uncle Ed’s Cubs hat and I laughed, did you know it then?
Did you know?
When Sparkle crossed the Bridge in 2008 and I brought her home and you looked at me with those eyes and watched me cry, did you know it then?
Did you know?
A year later, when Gizmo crossed the Bridge and I brought her home, and you sniffed her and looked at me with those eyes and watched me cry, did you know it then?
Did you know?
In July 2009 when I came home with a new pup, your first boy, Elvis and I watched you two play, did you know it then?
Did you know?
A year later when I came home with yet another pup, this one a kid and watched as you cleaned your second boy Apollo, did you know it then?
Did you know?
In June 2011 when I came home with another pup, your big boy Jesse and watched as you sniffed him up and down and accepted him as your boy, did you know it then?
Did you know?
Through all the yelling, scolding, bad times, did you know it then?
Did you know?
When you went to the vet in August 2015 and he said you had a Mast Cell Tumor and it was removed and I was with you, did you know it then?
Did you know?
Through all the treats, goodies, truck rides with me, did you know it then?
Did you know?
In June 2016, when a lump appeared on the inside of your left thigh and your vet said it was another tumor and I was there with you, did you know it then?
Did you know?
When we made the trip to the Mizzou specialty clinic in Wentzville, MO and took that nice long truck ride, did you know it then?
Did you know?
Through all the pills, the trips back and forth to Wentzville, the nice long truck rides with your daddy, did you know it then?
Did you know?
Through all the chemo and radiation treatments, the trips to see Dr. Ehling and the wonderful Staff in Wentzville, did you know it then?
Did you know?
All the times I had to make you take your pills, the IV’s, the crying, did you know it then?
Did you know?
That Memorial Day morning when I found you in the basement, laying there, looking up at me with those eyes, did you know it then?
Did you know?
On that fateful Wednesday, May 31, 2017, when we went to the puppy day spa and you were loved by everyone there, and I looked into those eyes and started to cry, did you know it then?
Did you know?
When we took our last car ride together to go to the emergency hospital, because I knew you were in pain and were suffering, that you had given all you could give, that it was time to send you across the Bridge, that I could no longer be selfish and that I knew, deep in my soul that I could not save you, did you know it then?
When the nice lady doctor came back into the room, and brought you back to me, when you were so sleepy and I laid down on the floor next to you, caressing you, talking to you, kissing you and you tried to look at me with those beautiful brown eyes, did you know it then?
When the nice lady doctor gave you the medicine that would finally put you at ease and at peace, that I laid there next to you the entire time, crying, kissing you, telling you how much I loved you, did you know it then, that you were so loved by me, mommy and everyone that knew you or met you? That you were the most important puppy girl in the whole wide world, to me?

In those final moments Satin Marie, just after midnight June 1, 2017, did you know it then, that I had always loved you and I always will? Did you know it then sweet baby girl, that you were so loved by me?

I know you knew it then. And I know that you know it now, there on the other side of the Bridge, patiently waiting for the day when we can be together again.

November 25, 2017