I knew this day would come. Honestly thought it would come
much sooner.
My little buddy Max, our jack Russell mix, took the leap to
the other side today. He is gone and gone with it is an era my family and I
will always cherish.
I mean how could I have something that was a constant in my
life for over 17 years and not write about him now that he’s gone? He’s been
through more of my life than my own wife and most of my friends.
It all started when I walked through a Dallas area shelter.
He was so stinking cute and begged me to bring him home which I did. I was 28, single
and working my own business from home. He instantly became a big part of my
life; always happy to see me and would listen to me go on for hours about business,
family, girls, Cowboys you name it.
He was one interesting dog though. On the way home day one
he chewed his way out of the box thing they put him in while I was inside
Petsmart and also found my pack of gum. Hence this is how our relationship would
roll the next decade and a half.
I could go on for hours about him. When Julie came onto the
scene he immediately took her in as “mama”. His ears would perk up, he would head
for the door and tilt his head waiting on her. Anyone that met him knew his
loud screaming fits when people came over. He literally freaked out. Annoying
and funny at the same time.
Julie and I laugh about how he would eat his food one little
morsel at a time, taking a piece from his bowl and walking it all the way into
our room at 3am to eat it…crunch…crunch…crunch. Other times he would just bury
and hide pieces all over the house.
He was a good dog. Someone had left him on the side of the
road in the rain as a puppy back in 1999. That’s how the shelter got him and
that’s how he worked his way into my heart and those that knew him.
One of the craziest things he ever did was about 10 years
ago when I was in the drive through at our local Chick Fi Lay. He loved being
in the car like most dogs do. I was placing my order as he was looking out the
passenger window. All of a sudden he leaped out the window of a tall SUV mind
you, and ran into…yes…into….the restaurant. He loved people and had to go see
them I guess. So I have to put the car in park, run in and grab him while cars
by a mile wait for me. I am certain people behind me still tell others that
story to this day.
He was a cute little guy. He was a wimp and a little on the
emotional side (we called him Maxine sometimes), but he was my buddy and he was
the first thing Julie and I loved together.
My sister had a dog named Katie and our friends had a dog
named Leah. They were all the same age and well all hung out years ago with our
pups. Today, all three have stepped over to the other side.
The most sad thing for us as a family was the ending of the
Max and Sam era that began 13 years ago when we brought little Sam into the
mix. They were our “kids” before our kids. Julie and I would be in bed together
with both of them many a night. Those two became instant buds and for nearly a
decade entertained us daily. After Sam passed away suddenly 4 years ago, we could
tell Max was missing him. Not long after that we found Charlie and things haven’t
really skipped a beat. Charlie gave Max a reason to keep moving, even after he
got older, became blind, and lost most of his hearing and smell.
We nearly lost him a year ago after he had a major stroke.
But funny thing is it seems that stroke actually “reset” him for 12 months. He
was a new dog until this week. Even our vet was amazed at how this little guy
adjusted, keep a smile on his tail and trucked right along…even into walls and
doors. But it got worse last night and when I saw him early this morning I knew
it was time. I couldn’t let my little buddy suffer after all he gave me,
Julie, and the kids he would sniff, lick and kiss.
Good puppy dogs deserve to be loved, cared for and sent on
to the next plane in piece and rest. He did that today and with all of my heart
I believe God is good enough to have him running around with Sam one more time
as he waits on us.
Goodbye Max. Charlie will maintain the fort and maybe one day we will get him another partner in crime to keep your spirit alive.
Until we see you again, peace our little Maxie and enjoy the party with Sam.
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