THE DUKE IS GONE

The first year I met Christian, and his wife, Mary, he was just hired and was getting maried. So looking for a waterfall area to have their wedding ceremony, we hiked and brought along Mary's dog, Duke. Duke just roamed all over the trail ignoring, mostly, their calls to stay near. At one point Duke was way ahead of us and I just yelled"DUKE! Right here!" and pointed just behind my right knee. And low and behold the Dukster just dropped his head an walked bcak to EXACTLY 6 inches behind my right knee. ANd as I hiked he stayed right there. If I said,"Go Ahead" he'd head up the trail and poke along until I said "Right here" again. Back he'd come and this went on all day. Mary and Chris were to say the least surprised he'd listened so well. So that became the start of a fine relationship he and I have had for the past years. I became his, DOGFATHER whenever Mary and Chris went outta town without Duke. Hours playing fetch was the routine. I even found a kid's softball field in which to let him loose and we could play fetch in a place bigger than his previous home. But, a while back he got cancer and, in the course of one of many treatments, accidently the chemo into his leg instead of the vein. With a choice of painful life ahead, they opted to amputate a leg with the idea the cancer would be reduced and he'd have another year with us. Lately he's been puking, having trouble breathing and not eating. Today he had to be put down. It's gonna suck not being greeting by that three legged, batty-earred, rock-chewing and eating guy who's made me feel like a VIP when I get outta my car. It's gonna really hurt...