Eulogy for Our Best Friend

Milo, you were never just a dog. You were never just a pet. 

You were our family. Our Moo Unit. And you made everything in our lives just a little bit……more.

It has been a year since you crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and we still miss you as if it were only yesterday. A piece of our hearts went with you that day….

For a long time, it felt as if we were on vacation and that if we just went back to our old home in California, you would be there. All wiggly and excited. Barking and so happy to see us again. Sometimes, it still feels this way….

There were several times when we thought it might be your last day and even though we went through all the emotions each time, it was still hard when it finally came. We wanted you to be with us forever.

That morning we went to the baker and picked up ‘Burridos’ for breakfast – bread rolls filled with egg, ham, and melted cheese. Then we took you to the park where you ate most of the burridos, which is as it always was. You tried hard to skip and play despite all your ailments and tired, old body. You smiled…Your beautiful smile. But you knew something wasn’t right. 

No matter how hard we tried to hide our sadness or concern when you were ill, you always knew. When we were down, stressed, sad, in pain, you knew…and you were always there trying to make it right. 

Your last day was no different. You stood by and looked at us with your all-knowing eyes. Something wasn’t right and you knew that you could make us smile if you smiled. So, you did. You let us know that everything was going to be OK. 

Your smile was always a tonic. Your superpower. It blew everything else away and left our hearts bursting with happiness. It was not for nothing that you were known as Smile-O.

Milo, you were such an integral part of our lives. We are still learning how to live without you. How to be without you. We are still learning how to be ‘just the two of us’.

It is still hard at restaurants when we are asked if we want anything boxed to go. Thankfully, we have learned not to over-order simply so we could bring you something home!

Making meals is hard because you were always there, watching, waiting, knowing that you would get your second dinner – your portion of whatever we were cooking. There are meals that we came to realize were more about you, Milo, than us. Like pasta, where we always served up an identical plate for you. Right down to the grated parmesan on top. It took a while for us to enjoy roast pork because it had become one of your favorites. You would start whining as soon as it came off the barbeque and come over to stand by daddy to make sure he didn’t forget to make a plate for Milo!

Christmas is hard and we miss you even more. It was one of your favorite times and you were like a small child in your excitement. Last year – our first one without you – was hard. We missed your nose in all the presents and in your stocking. We missed not putting a stocking out for you. We missed you on what would have been your 15^th birthday on Boxing Day.

There are so many things that trigger memories. Songs, sayings, places, even simply driving in the car. We both still look in the rear-view mirror hoping to see those beautiful brown eyes staring back at us, asking “where are we going today, mummy and daddy?’. 

Wherever we go, Milo, we will always take you with us.

We miss cuddling you. We miss your peeps and happy, skippy dances. We miss your snores. We miss your presence. 

Yet, we are so grateful that you were in our lives. While there will be other dogs in our future, there will never be another you, Milo. Our Moo, our Bubba. Our Bubba Moo. You showed us what was important in life, how to be in the moment, to get joy from even the simplest things, to love unconditionally. 

We will love you forever. We will miss you forever.

Originals are always the best.