This is something I wrote almost 1 year ago today… I still believe a part of me is still mourning.. and that is ok…I have not been able to share this until today. These animals are a part of us.. Home to Heaven was great….
May 17th 2011
I received that call that you hate to get but know it was right around the corner. In the last several months, I watched my faithful companion and best friend deteriorate. He is very stubborn, if you don’t know Bud. I sit now having to make the most painful decision of my life. But, it’s not about me. This creature came in to my life via a pet store at Belmont and Ashland in Chicago. He was the cheapest one there and I could not afford much. I went seeking something I could take care of, something more on the lines of a kitten. I lived in a high rise condo and had a fleeting maternal instinct and felt like I needed to care for another. I came home with Bud. Being nameless for 2 weeks my sister helped me out. Your always singing the blues you should name him Buddy Guy after the Chicago famous Blue’s singer. And so it was born. Buddy Guy Mann.
As I write this I am reliving all the memorable moments of my relationship with him. I have been blessed. The move out to Colorado when he was 5 months old. It was me and him a few boxes and a lot of hope for something different. I had to sedate him because he drooled so much it filled up and made the back seat wet and the time that Sierra (his friend) jumped into the water in a canyon steam and Bud followed her, the look on his face was priceless. He had many nicknames, jumping Hair, bud hole, ass. He came to all of them. I will always treasure his report cards from doggy day care. They would name what dog he hung out with for the day. What they needed to work on. Bud’s issue was marking. How he behaved during nap/quite time. It was always that he needed to shut up. He was my co-pilot as an insurance claim field rep. faithfully sitting in passenger seat as we traveled the State handing claims.
In 16 years, we have lived our share of places. He never complained about all the changes as long as he was with me. The one time, soon after I moved here, at the urging of friends, I tried to get another family to adopt him. Thinking they would be better for him rather than myself. It did not work out and they returned him (Thank god). After a couple weeks, the adoption facility told me to come pick him up, as I called them 3 times a day to check on his status. Then I would come home and look at the pictures that we had taken of him at Pet Smart with deer antlers on and cry for hours. Needless to say I went to pick him up. I could not get there fast enough. When I arrived he came around the corner and jumped over a counter and into my arms. We have been together ever since. I believe it has been my richest experience in my life.
His journey started in Chicago and he has traveled many States. His journey ends tonight in the care of Home to Heaven. Our vet has a service that comes to your home in a loving compassionate way to say goodbye. Our hearts are very heavy tonight and know that it must be done. My hope is in knowing that I helped him cross the Rainbow Bridge peaceable. I would rather be a week early than an hour too late…..Bud, I love you and I will miss you. It’s going to take months to adjust to a life without you. I will let you off your lead for the last time and I will see again. I believe the things that have been important to you here will be the same in what’s after here. Bud I love you my life will never be the same because of you…. Good Bye
At the conclusion of writing this, Bud has passed away. I held him in my arms he took his last breath. He did it on his terms before they arrived ( H to H). I was there with him. That’s all I could have asked for……… Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I mourn….