Not gone, just gone on ahead

Taking a moment to remember Chelsea, who left this earth yesterday. She is

JUST MY DOG

She is my other eyes that can see above
the clouds; my other ears that hear above
the winds. She is the part of me that can
reach out into the sea.

She has told me a thousand times over that
I am her reason for being: by the way she
rests against my leg; by the way she thumps
her tail at my smallest smile; by the way she
shows her hurt when I leave without taking her.
(I think it makes her sick with worry when she
is not along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, she is delighted to forgive.
When I am angry, she clowns to make me smile.
When I am happy, she is joy unbounded.
When I am a fool, she ignores it.
When I succeed, she brags.
Without her, I am only another woman.

With her,
I am all-powerful.
She is loyalty itself.
She has taught me the meaning of devotion.
With her, I know a secret comfort and a
private peace. She has brought me understanding
where before I was ignorant.
Her head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
Her presence by my side is protection against
my fears of dark and unknown things.

She has promised to wait for me...
whenever... wherever in case I need her.

And I expect I will as I always have.

She is just my dog.

– Gene Hill