So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
Certain seasons blur from one to the next in a lazy smear of shifting hues, tilting shadows and shrinking mercury. Others proclaim ordainment in a burst through the door and slide across the floor that startles sensibilities and pierces the soul. These latter times cannot be forgotten.
Like days through the years, most fish bleed into the next, but we’ll not forget the one we’ll never best; that dreadful, though much enshrined, fish of a lifetime. Nor the dazed and giddy evenings’ tallies in camp, when everyone’s using both hands, attempting recollection for the ledger, to recount their runs and hits and errors. Time when a collective stepping outside of the moment is only natural and forgiven for the sake of realizing this really may be about as good as it ever gets. Remember the fall of 2009, fellas?… Of course we do, we’re in it and we remember it, already.
The equinox passed somewhat short on notice, but the 24th was not to be ignored. Mugs followed me outside in the morning, lowered his head, leaned, wobbled, and collapsed on the porch. In twelve hours, and bereft of any certainty beyond suffering, I faced the decision every dog person dreads.
I watched the white push down the tube. I twirled a finger through the wispy scruff of his ear. I saw the final ebb of his breath, and then stillness.
He was eleven, same as his grandfather and great grandfather, family dogs growing up. I knew this going into it. All my dogs go to eleven.
We live and carry these days and their changes as treasure. They make living sweeter; not for the way we felt within them, but for the wonder they enchant us with now; at what’s yet to be fulfilled, at all else we’ve yet to savor, and at all that’s left to realize in order even to be lost.
So a collective Thank You and a collected farewell, destined but undesigned, in flesh but not in essence, to every thing beyond reprise.
And Mugs, you were the best damn anything I ever knew.
November 26th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Sniff.
November 26th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Raising the Thanksgiving glass to you, Mugs and the season.
November 26th, 2009 at 9:24 am
One more Salute, for one more fallen Soldier
November 26th, 2009 at 9:33 am
safe travels in the hereafter Mugs. I’ll raise a glass for you
November 29th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
as my pup nears year 1, i shudder to think. thanks for making me misty eyed, bastage. a glass raised to you and Mugs.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Muggsy, I bet you are curled up with that little seniority from Baja. Go catch another wave in the morning. Good dog!
November 30th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
mugs! we’ll miss you.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I’m a Golden guy also. 11 solid years, good on ya, Mugs.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
“But in his heart he knows that sometimes a dog is as good as any man..”
My Lab is going on 9…. I just hope i can give her one good duck season while she is still in good shape.
When she goes, I am not going to cope well. Probably spent more time with her the last 8 years than I have any one person.
Good Job, Mugs…
December 1st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
A stirring tribute to a fallen friend. Thanks for the read, and may the force be with you Mugs. Say hi to Woody and Parker for me, and tell them it’s still not okay to roll around in dead Chums.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
“All my dogs go to eleven.”
Awesome words.
Here’s to Mugs. Most dogs make better friends than we deserve.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:42 pm
well written. i will toss back a cold one in Mugs’s honor this evening, wish i coulda met him. and nice scorecard.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
We too had to put down our hunting companion this fall, and I know exactly what you’re going through
They just cant prepare you for that day….no one can
December 8th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Mugs—Coolest dog. Ever. Banknote—Way cool dude. I think I’ll go give Riley a scratch. Thanks.
January 5th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Cool pics
January 5th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
We had to put down our pointer a year ago. I now have an awesome golden-lab. She’s too good to me.
They’re better friends than we deserve.