1. I'm coming back, I promise.
Cody- Hi, remember me? Your owner? The one who picked out and rescued you all those years ago? I hope you haven't forgotten about me yet, because I certainly haven't forgotten about you.
Cody and I are used to being apart for long periods of time. Every summer, my guest room would turn into a packing room. I'd pack and I'd pack for my favorite time of the year- camp. For years, I would leave every July and return the following month. Then I began leaving every June, and returning in not one month's time, but two. Needless to say, Cody and I are used to being apart. In fact, I have only been away at school now for just over a month. If anything, he thinks I'm halfway done with my time and returning to him in just a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, he would be wrong. As a month passes, two pass, then three, four, five... I want him to know I'm coming back. It breaks my heart to think he could have the idea in his mind that I somehow stopped caring for him, or loving him, and want nothing to do with him any longer. I wish I could tell him how much I love him, and that I truly will be returning. Cody, I'm coming back, I promise.
2. I think about you, A LOT.
Although he may think that my nights out in Tally have no comparison to my nights spent with him, he would be so wrong. Sure, a night at Pots, or Clydes, or even Standard (okay, maybe not) is a great time. But truly nothing compares to the nights spent cuddling my little rascal. I wish he could understand that even though I am not physically there with him, to throw a bone, or tug a rope- I think about him all the time. Like seriously, all the time.
3. I fear being replaced.
I'm fully aware that I was never, nor will ever be, the favorite. Yes, I was the one who pushed for a dog all those years. Yes, my parents fought with me for 13 years of life for that January moment when I finally heard the word "yes". Yes, I was the one who picked him out. But, was I chosen as the favorite? Nope. I come in second, first being my dad. I can't blame him, my dad is incredible. But come on... I PICKED him out, for crying out loud. Regardless, I still fear being replaced for the second favorite. It sounds ridiculous, but to me, being the second favorite is really special. My dad worked from home for a bit, so he spent every single second of every day with Cody. It doesn't surprise me that he's the favorite. But I fear falling down to the third, even fourth. I'm not around. I can't bribe him with food from the table, or snuggle him, or trap him in my room essentially forcing him to love me. So yes, I do fear losing my second place stance, and I do fear being replaced.
4. I wish I could give you the world.
Puppy eyes, they're real. And every time Cody would look at me with those eyes- I would give in. But in reality, in doesn't even take the puppy eyes. In return for all the love he's given me, I wish I could give him the world. I wish I could give him every scrap on my plate. I wish I could buy him every toy in the market. And I wish I could play with him every second of every day. Being away at school, the desire to give him the world is so much stronger and so much more present, and I don't see it getting any easier.
5. You make a better person.
There's a known quote, "be the person your dog thinks you are". Ever since I heard this quote, I have tried to live by it, day in and day out. Your dog does not see you outside the love and devotion you give to him. You feed him, you cuddle him, you tell him how cute he is. Any person who did that to me, I would think of as rather great. My desire to be the person Cody sees me as is immense. He makes me a better person, and he's changed my life.
6. You changed my life.
This January will be five years since Cody and I first met. I walked into the Humane Society, passed a few cages, and then came across him. It truly was love at first sight. He had a brother with him, and so my parents said it would be a good idea to bring them both into the interaction room. My parents refused to tell me which of the two they wanted, but I already knew. We all wanted him, and he wanted us. That cold, windy, (probably not, I mean it is Florida) January day, our lives changed forever, mine especially.
7. You are my very best friend.
Friends may come and go, but family is here to stay. The youngest member of my family may walk on four feet, but he truly is family. He has been there for me on my brightest days, and on my darkest days. He knows when I need him, and provides for me, just as I provide for him. Words cannot describe the amount I miss him. In my final words of this article, let me just say something... some may say I rescued him, but in reality, he's the one who rescued me.
