I know, the title of this piece reads like some sappy meme from Facebook but stay with me. My wife and I are quickly closing in on a year without our beagle, Amstel, and so many things have come into focus.
He and I spent a majority of our waking hours together for over thirteen years and it’s accurate to say we were best buds.
I knew I’d miss him but I greatly underestimated just how deeply. I miss his companionship, how he watched me as I made dinner and set aside little bites for him, his zoomies, how he would press up against us on cold nights, and even the way he smelled. Amstel was a source of infinite joy and comfort, a kind of buffer between us and the harsh ridiculousness of this human world.
It’s been nine months since we said goodbye to our little buddy. I’ve been thinking about him a lot as we’ve been preparing for this trip to Ireland. Normally before a trip like this I would have been feeling the dread of leaving him behind but the thought of seeing him again would make coming back from the trip so much easier.
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” -Will Rogers
Yes, we’ve built our new daily routines but the void Amstel's left is still the elephant in every room. As I get older I’ve come to realize that no human relationship can compare to the companionship and loyalty that we receive from animals. They give us infinitely more than they receive.
The last two pictures of Amstel on my camera roll.
The day we had to make that horribly difficult decision in January we told ourselves that we wouldn’t get another dog until we finished our international adventures. We came up with all sorts of excuses and justifications that made perfect sense.
Then we saw a beagle puppy in the park last week on one of our daily walks and I realized how some of the best things in life don't make any sense at all. Soon, we'll be boarding our flight and trying to get some shut eye as we glide over the great Atlantic. As excited as I am for this trip, in many ways, I find myself thinking more about the possibilities and adventures that await us when we return.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Thanks for reading! All for now. Remember…trust your instincts, invest in you, live boldly, and take chances.
(Photos are original.)
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