by Candi Paradise
You were the pick of the liter, literally. Your mom had you & your brothers & sisters in a playpen in our livingroom that August day back in '87. Out of all the pups, you were the fluffiest, cuddliest. The first to wander from the rest. I picked you up & named you, Bear. Because you looked like a little near cub. I taught you to sit, stay & lie down. I taught you to walk w/ me w/o a leash, to beg & to fetch. I taught you to speak, roll over & come. I taught you down, out, no & then some. But you taught me so much more. You taught me patience & love. You taught me friendship & compassion. When there was no one else, there was you. For 8 too short years, you were my best friend. Not my "DOG", but my family. You followed me to school & were there to walk me home. When I cried, you licked my face & gave me a "hug". You slept in my bed, not at the foot but at my head. You would hold me at night. You had your favorite recliner & would just sit there w/ your arm propped up on the arm rest as if to say "I am the king of the castle". You survived being hit by a car. Even though it nearly killed you, you dragged yourself home. On a long trip you got out of the car a state away & still managed to find your way back. You were there for me throught those awful adolecent & teen years. We moved from New Jersey to Maryland to California together. And in the end, you were still my best friend. You were still more a person than a "DOG". You would not eat, so I tried to spoon feed you. You were suffering & in pain. And when we knew it was time to let you go there was an unbearable pain in my chest, kind of like the one I have now. On the kitchen floor you lay as I lay w/ you/ A breath you would take & then pause before another. Mom came into the room soon followed by Jessica & you clung to life while we pet you & held you. As soon as the last member of our family was present, you took your last breath & were gone. Bear, I love you & I will always miss you. 8 years was not long enough to spend w/ you & 6 years is not long enough to get over you.