Bear

my best friend from a long ago was a beagle puppy named Bear. i was 19 at the time when we got him and he was just 8 weeks old. one look into those sad droopy eyes and i knew that me and this little guy were going to get along great .

i was living at my mom and dads at the time and the only person in the world that i had as a friend was my brother. he had recently wed and moved out so i was by myself alot during that time. but when Bear arrived that changed. he became not only my best friend but also the paw i cried on, my playmate, my fishing buddy, and half bed owner of my bed. i loved that little guy dearly and he loved me 3xs as much . when i came home from school it wasnt my parents or my visiting brother that would greet me first, it was Bear and he always had that sad "beagle"bark ready to go for me when he seen me getting off the bus.

God i could go on and on and on about him but i will end it with this. Bear was with us for a grand total of only 4 months. one day when we all had our guard down Bear ran out into the road and was hit by a car. i was in my bedroom on the phone at the time and i could have sworn that he was under my bed asleep. my mom came running in the door and told me what had happened.

i ran outside and found my best friend clinging to life. i picked him up and rushed to the nearest vet to try and save him but they told me there was nothing that could be done for him. i was 19 in 1988 and bear was 6 months old. he died that day and i wished at the time i could have traded places with him.

the months after that were lonely for me. i would think about him every day. but soon the pain would ease and the good memories started. years have gone by and i am married now with 4 kids. we have 2 dogs and 4 cats that are part of our family and share every day and everything with us.

not long ago my wife and i were talking about pets and the pets weve had in our lives and it was the 1st time i thought about bear in a long long time. and i swear the tears came back to me like it had just happened. i never stopped loving him and missing him........i had simply rushed into my life and he was lost in that rush.

but when he came back to me i remembered every little thing about him. his bark, his smell, and those sad droopy eyes.

i am crying now as i am writing this. you dont have to spend years and years with a pet to miss them like this.........you just have to love them.