A pup named Huck.

Please just be patient with me as I rant and whine. I know the little dog above to you means nothing more than a picture, but he was more to me. And this just seems to be the place to let it all out.

So here it goes...

I never thought in a million years he would have ever gone so soon. My little huckleberry, my sidekick. We did everything together. I serously had an unheathly realtionship with him. It is maybe due to the fact that I don't have children myself... or its just because thats just how it was going to be. But we were inseparable. So yes, you are thinking Em.. just a dog. BUT let me tell you, he wasnt. Lassie, Marley and Old Yeller had nothing on Huck. He protected us, kept us company, loved us unconditionally, made us laugh, made us cry, and hes just gone. This dog even trained HIMSELF to ring a bell when he wanted outside, he feed himself food, and was easily trainable. I think he did this just so he wouldnt bother us. Best dog I have ever had. Am I being dramatic, NO, I loved him and he deserves to be talked about in this way.

I miss him horribly. I came home from a busy day of work, plopped my stuff on the couch and let huck outside. It was a beautiful day, in the 70's so I decided to let huck out longer to enjoy the weather. I ate dinner, went online and went to look out the door to see if he was ok. I noticed.. he was gone. I completely started panicking. Me and my 20 week old preggo belly started out on the hunt. Josh wasnt home yet to help, but I thought I would find him anyway. I walked and drove street by street, nothing. I asked several people and some said they had just saw a little beagle 5 mins. ago! So my hopes where up again. 6 hours later, 2 people searching, and 10 signs made. Josh decided it was enough and for me and told to take a break because im pregnant. He asked me to go to bed and told me " he is probably in someones bed and they will turn him in tomorrow" He just didnt want me to get upset because of the baby. And to be honest I still think he had some hope, and so did I. So I gave him NyQuil, waited for him to drift off to sleep and went back in my car to do some searching. I drove street by street again, and once again nothing. So i decided to check the main road and a little subdivison next to ours. As I am driving back to my house I see a fresh pool of blood and drive on. Deep in the pit of my heart I knew, but didnt want to look. I had to know so I turned around and drove by it again. I looked to the side and there he was a little white tail, adorable brown and black ears, and those long legged legs of his. Altho he was curled up like he was sleeping, it devasted me. I gunned my car down as fast as I could. Ran out of my car to the bedroom upstairs. I woke josh up by yelling, "HE'S DEAD!!! HUCKS DEAD!!!!! " He just stared at me in disbelief and shook his head. He asked where, so he could make sure he was dead and not injuried. I took him to the horrible site and josh got out of the car to check Hucks lifeless body. "Hes gone Em" We both went back to bed, completely horrified. Held eachother in our arms and cried all night. Our buddy is gone. He brought Josh and I so much happiness. I slept an hour and then told Josh I cant see him on the road everyday. Rickie agreed to come out and put his body in a bag. Josh had to go to Penn. today, so he couldnt do it. We carried him to a beautiful place called Boones Creek Camp. This is where I grew up, fell in love and wanted my dog to be. If you go out there sometime you will see a little grave that holds 1 of many dogs buried there. A simple one, but an honoring one. Marking the grave is a big rock my daddywalter gave me, sticks lying across it, and 3 daffodils. Hes buried in view of a lovely pond we had taken him before. Huck deserved a proper burial. Though a dog, he just wasnt. Thank you camp and Rickie for allowing me to do this.

Will I ever get over this? In some ways yes and in some ways no. Theres no dog like him, but I also have this little baby boy kicking me as I am typing this. God has blessed me with 3 1/2 years with my little buddy. I appreciate every moment with him. I can't wait to focus my love 2x more to my little boy. Im thankful for those moments. I have a motherly heart and now its just a waiting game to use that.

We will miss you Huckleberry, thank you for everything.

Moon River, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker, wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end-- waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend, Moon River and me.