My Sweet, Sweet Boy

This post has been floating around in my head wanting to be written.... 

but my heart has been too sad. 

One week ago yesterday my mom said her (and our families) last goodbyes to our sweet boy Basil. 

It was almost 12 years to the day since we brought him home.... 

sometimes life just works in mysterious ways.

 Being in San Diego has made it hard for me to really realize that he's gone, to realize that he wont be there the next time I come home, loosing his balance on the wood floor in all his excitement. I wont be able to see his grayed face, ask him where his "dolly" is or share my bananas with him. 

 But I'll hold the memories of him close to my heart. I'll remember buying him his first kiddie pool for the summer, his shaved leg after surgery, and his kind way with our cat who never really liked him. I'll remember how hard I tried to convince my parents to let him sleep in my room and how since that first night he never slept anywhere else. 

 I'll remember him running along the fence barking, hiding under the deck when we weren't home and sunbathing until his heart was content. I'll remember his eager face waiting to come inside whenever he heard the garage door open. I'll remember his impeccable timing to always stand by his bowl for dinner at 5 o'clock each night. 

 I'll remember when he ate 3 dozen oatmeal cookies off the counter and didn't eat for 2 days after. I'll remember showing him off as a puppy to all my friends and how he brought my dad and I together all those years ago. I'll remember his keen sense of hearing whenever we were cutting veggies on the cutting board and how polite and gentle he always was.

I'll remember how he never really enjoyed playing fetch and how he'd much rather be sitting or laying by your side the whole day. I'll remember how he truly was a member of our family, not just our pet. I'll remember how he hated suitcases because he loved us so much and I will always remember how much I loved him. 

I know my mom made the right decision for him. I know it can be so easy to be selfish and not want them to go. But I also know that now he is his old self again, that he isn't suffering anymore and that he is the happy, wonderful, sweet, sweet boy that I love so dearly. 

He will always be my boy and I will always be his girl. 

I love you and I miss you Basil.