Dear old guy,
Sometimes I have to remind myself that you aren’t a puppy anymore. I still treat you like one. It’s amazing to think that it has been so long since you were first introduced to my family. We were so excited to choose a name for you, and so unaware of just how important you would become to each of us. You snuck into all of our hearts and became part of the family.
As a young tween, I was starting to get sick of snow days, until you came along. You’re first snow was something amazing for all of us because you were so excited to play with all the cold stuff on the ground. You were almost impossible to find among the fresh white blanket of snow on the ground because your fur blended right in. You ate the snow as if it was your favorite treat, and would run through it at a speed that was impossible to beat.
When I was a kid, I would constantly try to race you. Of course, I was naïve and had a false sense of hope believing that I could outrun you. You always won. It’s ten years later and you still do. You might not be able to run as far as you once could, but neither can I. I seem to forget that your legs get more tired than they used to, and that you aren’t as fast as you once were. I still treat you as though you are in the prime of your health, because I’ll never be able to accept that you are getting old.
You’ve been my best friend for an entire decade, and I can no longer imagine life without you. I grew up with you by my side. You’ll always be my best friend and someone to keep me company at night. I never have to fall asleep alone, because you’re right by my side. You even wake me up in the mornings (sometimes when I don’t want to be woken up). But, I’m always glad to see how much you care for me.
I hope you know that choosing to leave for college was the hardest decision ever, because I knew that you wouldn’t be able to understand why I was leaving you. I knew that you would miss sleeping next to me every night, and wonder why I had abandoned you for so long. When I finally went left, it broke my heart to leave you, but I always looked forward to seeing you when I got home. Sometimes, I find myself stopping home for a few hours just to see you.
Now, it’s time for me to start accepting that you are not as young as you once were. You might not be able to play fight for as long, and you would rather nap than go for a run. I still love you no matter how old you are and no matter how old you will get. Sometimes I miss when you were a puppy, but in some ways you are still a puppy to me. I could never have asked for a better best friend. I can count on you to be there for everything. You’re more reliable than any person I know. I can’t wait to spend another decade with you, best bud.
Love,
Your person