Memories of Blue

One week has past, and although we've gotten used to the quiet of the house - we both still hear phantom "taps" at the door (taught by neighbor dog Molly), the deep sighs just after he settled onto his favorite soft spots on the couch or the 'woo woos' that said came, like clockwork, at breakfast and dinnertime. We haven't adjusted to sleeping in bed without him hogging at least 1/3 of it. We still expect to see his face in the window when we pull in, him roaming the back yard, or snoring lightly on the couch next to the window.

We picked up his ashes yesterday, prepared to be brave - only to melt when we saw they gave us a print of his paw. Not unlike the prints of Kiaser's paw in the floor at our cabin - that I protect with a vengeance ever time we discuss refinishing the floor. I thought by cremating him, it would make sending his remains off to some happy place - probably up north, his favorite place - easier...but I am not sure it is going to be. So where do you put the "Tin o' boxer"? As much as I'd like to put him somewhere that I imagine he'd be pleased with, he (his remains at least) is safely tucked in the entertainment center, far from toddler hands.

So many people sent cards and condolences. We had over 100 comments between our two facebook pages. Some people mentioned special memories of Blue - ones I don't want to forget...like how he used to play "hacky sack" with balloons, stalk bananas, his "peanut head", floppy jowls, how he used to walk himself to and from the beach as he liked, how he used to love to stick his head out the sunroof when he knew we were getting close to his buddy Max's house, the way he'd dive under water like the "Loch Ness Boxer"...and, that he "set the standard for boxers". I know someday, we will get another dog (a boxer, if I have say!)...but it's so hard to even imagine any dog having so much personality and being as good and loyal as he was.

He was Brian's first gift to me, his first expression of a promise that we were going to be a family someday. He took such care and patience training him...I'd come home from work and he'd be in the yard at my house with Blue, doing commands like "sit"and "stay". In a way, Blue showed me what kind of father Brian would be some day. When Brian traveled, Blue kept me feeling safe and make me laugh....but the truth was told the minute Brian walked in the door, and he'd "kidney bean" his way to him, nub wagging as fast as it could.

I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, "this guy" was deeply loved by his family...and we will miss him forever.

I've been collecting photos of Blue in hopes of making a small memory book. I've barely made it through year 2005 yet - but feel free to check here to see them:

Memories of Blue Photos

"Indeed, our lives have been enriched beyond measure because of the love of a dog. We have been adopted by the most irrepressible of clowns, that most intuitive of comforters, that most selfless of companions- the Boxer."