Charlie and the Spirit of Sam

When Sam died last summer, I really just didn't think we'd all be able to move on. He was such a sweet, sweet dog. For Julie and I, Sam was really "our" dog. I've had Max since before I knew Julie and the kids didn't get to experience Sam as a puppy though they loved him dearly.

On that terrible day in August, I had no idea Sam would live on as a heavenly big brother from above.

Someone had told me after Sam died that the only way a boxer family can truly move on is to by getting another boxer. A boxer family just cannot exist without always having a boxer around. If you've never had one you are missing out. They jump, box, play like little kids, snuggle, protect, sleep in your lap and give more kisses than you can hope for. PERSONALITY describes them. They are children trapped in dogs boddies. Fun, fun, fun!

So we decided in honor of Sam we had to have another.

Meet Charlie.

He's brown, skinny, all muscle and a ball of fun. His has oversized ears, extra long legs and we swear he tries to talk all the time. Char-Char as we call him is 100% fun and he loves, loves, loves his new family. He sleeps with the girls, snuggles with me and Julie and barks and protects us all.

I was so sad about "the boys" never being the boys again, that I couldn't even consider the idea that "the boys" would really end up being Max, Sam AND Charlie. That's why it took me so long to update this blog and make the changes. For 10 years "the boys" were just Max and Sam. It took Max some time, but now these two are running around like times of old. Max might be mostly blind, but he can run and play like he's 6 months old too.

Though Sam is watching from above (yes we believe!), Charlie carries in many traditions of his former older brother. Charlie sleeps on the couch in the same spots, sighs and carries on in true Sam fashion and loves and plays with his brother Max like no other. In many ways the only way we haved moved on is by watching this new guy steal our hearts.

I know I still think about Sam all the time and he will never be replaced. Charlie just makes me stop sometimes and think about him.

The spirit of Sam carries on in this house thanks to his new little brother Charlie.

I swear, sometimes I catch a glimpse in the corner of my eye of one dark tail, and two other "little nubs" all chasing each other around the sofa. Just makes you wonder...