Yesterday, my dog , Cookie, died, and on that clear, warm evening, in the humid backyard of my house, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. No more hugs, no more special birthdays to celebrate together, no more sitting quietly on the sofa watching TV, no more kisses from a tongue that felt like soft velvet... no more "just one more throw." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away. never to return before we can say good-bye one last time, or say "I love you."

So while we have it . . . it's best we love it . . . and care for it. And fix it when it's broken . . . and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage. And old cars . . . and children with bad report cards and aging parents and grandparents and dogs with bad hips . We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Life is important, like people and pets we know who are special . . . and so, We keep them close. Cookie will always remain in my heart. She gave me everything she had for almost 14 years. I hope she knew I loved her. I hope I was half the person she thought I was. Tomorrow would have been her birthday. I had already bought all the stuff to make her cake. I don't think I can do that now.

She was my "Baby Girl"... It was just her etime to go. She is in the back yard with her favorite chasing ball. I miss her and my heart is breaking...