I said goodbye to Xander this morning.
He woke up on the wrong side of the bed,
Sudden messes on the floor.
Outside, he stood in the snow,
a sad lost look in his eyes.
Tail tucked tight between his legs,
shaking but not from the cold.
I think he was in pain.
The fight had gone out of him.
It was still there last night
When he asked for a meal,
and another, and another.
He got all of them.
Today he didn't nip my finger
when he took the treat from my hand.
When I tossed a handful in the car,
He didn't jump in after them.
I had to lift him, first his front, then his back.
He only helped a little.
And he didn't bark at all on the drive.
This was not my boy!
IYKXYK*
If I didn't know already,
The random songs on the 6am radio
Ran like a curated play list
For Xander's Last Ride.
Lionel Richie's Hello
Chariots of Fire
Stand Tall
Reminiscing
Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You
The vet came in the room
I watched as he listened a long time to his heart.
Elevated heart rate, he said,
Labored breathing
We can take x-rays if you want.
I didn't.
He said it's probably cancer.
He was so wonderful and caring
I thought I'd have to talk him into it
I think he thought he'd have to persuade me.
I said I knew when I brought him in
That I probably wasn't taking him home.
He said he wished more clients were like me.
Stand Tall, my darling boy.
Run fast. Jump high.
Eat all the things!
Till we meet again, my love.
My love,
Till we meet again.
*If You Know Xander, You Know.
To read the story of how Xander got his name, go here and scroll down down down to #5.
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