 |
| My Umbra |
Yesterday I lost the most loyal companion anyone could ever ask for. My sweet angel dog Umbra suddenly passed away from spleen cancer. She had been at my side for well over 10 years…not nearly long enough. She was as playful as a puppy her entire life. The house is already too quiet without her. I’ll never forget the day she chose me. I went to see puppies that my cousin’s dog had just given birth to. I was considering a dog, but wasn’t sure if I was ready for one. I walked into the barn where the pups were and seeing all the adorable babies made me smile. I picked them up one by one and each one squirmed in my arms or playfully nipped at my fingers. None of them really felt like my dog though. Then I picked up the small lone black puppy. She looked entirely different from the rest of the litter. Once I had her in my arms she looked up at me with her big brown eyes and crawled up to nuzzle under my chin. My heart melted and I, obviously, had my dog. From that moment on Umbra and I were inseparable. She greeted me when I came home, snuggled against my legs at night, and licked my tears when I was upset. She got me through a lot of difficult times. Moving to St. Louis alone was much easier with her to keep me company. I don’t know if I would have made it that first year without her. There is now a gaping hole in my heart. Some people who read this will be thinking “Come on, it’s just a dog.” To them I say that Umbra was way more than just a dog. She was my best friend, my companion, my shoulder to cry on, my child, and my heart. I will forever be changed because that beautiful creature was in my life. All I have now are images of her doing “crazy dog” in the snow, tapping her feet begging for French fries, and giving me a hug with her paws. I will never forget all you did for me Umbra and I will miss you forever. I love you.
