Tear stained cheeks as we walked from room to room. The silence only to be broken by sniffing and weeping was all that was heard around the Adams household this morning. AJ had been on this earth 13 years. Tracy had walked with him, and he with her, for his entire life. AJ a rock and an unfailing, unwavering companion, friend and son for the darkest and difficult times in Tracy's life. When no one else was there, even me, AJ was. The bond between the two was inseparable and unconditional. Being an animal lover this relationship was something that first attracted me to Tracy.
I only got to join the party nearly 8 years ago when AJ was a spritely 5 year old who's love for people and food immediately was something I could relate to. We didn't hit it off right off the bat. I was invading time and affection from his time and affection with Tracy, and he had ways of letting me know how he felt about that. I can remember one time when Tracy and I were still dating that she had left him with me at my apartment in Denver. It was just AJ, my dog Thunder and I. Thunder was off sleeping somewhere and I was eating breakfast and I was watching AJ sniff at my guitar. I remember saying "don't you pee on that guitar AJ." I might as well had said the opposite, cause facing me, looking me in the eyes, he lifted his leg almost with a grin on his face.
There were several times spent chasing him around the park, or trying to get him to mind me, but it wasn't until Tracy and I were married that he finally came to a realization that I wasn't going anywhere. This is where our relationship changed and we spent several moments lounging on the couch together watching TV. He was an affectionate little guy and Tracy and I were laughing about all the kisses he would give in his younger years. He would kiss you and kiss you until you moved away, then he'd continue in kissing the air.
His devotion to Tracy never wavered and there was never any denying who he favored. AJ developed arthritis in his joints when he was about 8, and this pain would continue to grow and grow not allowing him to run, jump up, or to be able to walk up stairs. So, following his beloved Mama around became more and more difficult. Tracy would head upstairs in our house and AJ would have to wait at the bottom crying until she or I would assist the old man up the stairs. Then she'd come back down stairs only for a moment and he'd hobble down to be with her then she'd go back up stairs and it would start all over again. He always slept with Tracy, cuddled up under the covers in the early years, then sleeping in a bed on the floor always on her side. He'd follow her around as she got ready for work early every morning. Walking back and forth from room to room always looking up at her, or watching her feet to see where she was going. You just don't find friends like that in the human race. Who would get up with you early every morning and follow you from room to room? Answer: no one. AJ filled a place that not even I, her husband, could. To that end I am grateful for my little old man. He filled the cracks and was my partner in making sure that Tracy received the love she deserved.
So we found ourselves back, just shy of 3 years from putting our Thunder down, at Pikes Peak Animal Clinic. Thunder was for me everything that AJ was for Tracy. So today I hurt for not only the loss of my little buddy, but I ache for my wife knowing what she is going through. We pulled into the clinic and all I could do was whisper a prayer for the three of us. That God would be with us, and that AJ's transition would be painless. I feel God's answer to both of those prayers this morning. We hurt, but we have hope.
Some people believe that there are no pets in heaven. It's not for me to battle that argument cause I haven't been there yet, but if the streets are paved with gold. Tell me, how'd that gold get to heaven? It certainly wasn't because it prayed it's way there.
Gold to me is a treasured friend, someone who puts you above them self. So this means to me that in heaven I'll see the street lined with pets. Thunder and AJ are now dogs on heaven's streets.
We'll see you again little buddy. Till then give Thunder a kiss from us.
We love you!
