Thoughts and Tribute for My Best Friend

I needed to put down in words my feelings for one of the most important people in my life. A friend who always gives his best, who never lets me down.

This article is a heartfelt tribute to my little man, my boy, my best friend using what limited poetry of writing I can manage to express those feelings.

My boy sleeps.

I look at him sleeping and a feeling of complete and pure love fills my mind.

Not the fleeting in and out love of relationships. Or even familial love – but something more than that.

A whole thing, pure and unsullied – the one love, the true love. This guy will not let me down, and I will not let him down.

We know who we are, and where we're at - and I know what I feel for him. What he feels for me, I hope, is something back.

But I don't require that. He can have everything from me, and I ask for nothing in return.

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Is it possible to love this much and not hurt?

The hurt is part of the experience, the knowing that it can’t last for ever – one day one of us will pass away and then it will be no more.

For now, it is important to savour each and every precious moment.

He is strong and weak.

Strong in temperament and attitude, always giving his best. Whatever the goal or game is then 100% is given and it shows on his face, his stance, his effort.

Weak because he is fragile, temporary. Small and with hip dysplasia he won’t ever be the big man he thinks he is already. He may end up crippled, but for now he manages and always with a smile on his face.

When he came to us he was very ill. Mother nursed him, the girls looked after him – and he grew stronger.

Now he is fully grown. A young man about town. He knows what we expect and does his utmost to deliver it.

He would put his life on the line for us – and we for him.

100%. That’s his offering. Whatever it is, whatever you do – it’s always full on.

Not a “might do it if that’s all that’s on offer” attitude to life.

If you suggest something he is ready, alert, capable to rise to the challenge or opportunity, and grasp it and make it his own.

And yours as well if you are equally up to it.

It would wrong to let him down, dismiss his own suggestion, be too busy or otherwise occupied.

And anyway, once his enthusiasm comes your way then you are helpless to resist.

After all, what is the point in life if you can’t make an effort when someone needs you? It’s better than not being needed at all.

Yes, he can be trouble. He goes looking for fights. This is part of his protecting us – it’s what he does.

We try to avoid them – he heads towards them. But he does it for us, it’s what he thinks is for the best.

He sometimes, well often, loses it completely. Mad as a brush. Difficult to control. Challenging.

That’s what you get with 100%. The rough with the smooth.

He’ll fight with the girls but they have been very patient. They know what he’s like and they make allowances time after time.

We probably let him get away with too much, but did I mention we love him?

We watch over him when he sleeps. Listen to his breathing, sometimes he dreams.

The house is peaceful and he is safe.

How can I find the words to describe my delight at hearing his sigh, his sleep noises he makes?

I am hopelessly, completely and utterly devoted to this person.

Over time households establish rules. They just are – the unwritten rules that ensure everyone gets along, things get done on time. They are important.

The boy does not get these rules. He understands their existence, but does not agree that they apply to him.

The girls were always so much better behaved. Sometimes they seem shocked that He can just do more or less as he pleases.

We are creating a monster but if we tell him off he looks so sad. He does ‘sad’ very well. It may be a con but it doesn’t seem so.

How can you take the 100% and dim the light for the sake of some rule?

We can’t.

I won’t put up pictures or mention his name due to internet safety.

I don’t think children’s faces should be plastered across web pages – they deserve their anonymity until they are old enough to decide for themselves.

Our boy probably never will be capable of making that decision – he is not intelligent in that way.

But I will tell you who he is.

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He is my dog. And I love him.