Cody

(Western Mass.)

Cody was a golden retriever. He was a deep golden, almost copper color. We got him at 6 weeks old. He was the runt of the litter. Last one to be chosen but first one to leave his brothers and sisters and parents.

My daughter and husband went to look at the litter while I was still at work on a Friday in August of 1995. This little puppy came to my daughter and pulled on her sock. It was love at first sight. They put him in a cardboard box and brought him home.

When I drove into the driveway coming home from work, there was my daughter with Cody in her arms. Of course he didn't have a name yet, but it didn't take long to settle on Cody. He had the puppy smell. I wasn't crazy about that.

I'd never had a dog. I was so worried he would bark, have fleas, and just be extra work. Boy, he was the right one to come to my life and prove me wrong. From the start he was very smart. I swear he learned by osmosis. Very soon he was responding to sit, stay, lie down. He was house trained in no time. I only remember one almost accident.

He was the cutest thing when he was sleeping. Always wanted to be around us. Helped us through our rough times by being there with his unconditional love and sweetness.

It breaks my heart that I wasn't there when he took his last breath. But I'm comforted that he died a natural death and we didn't have to make the decision to put him to sleep. I would have been devastated.

Cody, you're in my heart forever. Thank you for your love, sweetness and devotion. Forgive me the times I was selfish and didn't take you out for a walk or give you the attention you deserved. You've left such an empty space in our life. How that will be filled, if ever, I don't know.

I love you.