To the only royalty I ever knew.
Duke died some time last night or earlier today. It's funny, because I've been expecting this for a long time. He's been in pretty bad shape for the past few years and we've had him for something like 17 years which is just completely unheard of for a dog. Anyway, I thought that I was totally prepared for him to die, and when my dad told me tonight, I wasn't very surprised or really hit hard by it at all. Then, I called Kendall on my way home and was going to just nonchalantly tell her and then I just completely lost it. I realized that I have no memories of life in this world without Duke. I was alive a little bit before him, but it was too early and I have no memories from then. My entire childhood consisted of playing in the backyard and the woods behind my house and Duke was always there. That spot behind my house was Duke's spot and I cannot imagine him not being there. Duke was there when the sandbox and the swingset were there. He was there when they were removed. He was there when we got the swimming pool and the giant garage. He's seen our yard drastically change over the years and he's watched it all from his spot on the hill. He vigilantly guarded our yard and warned of any strangers until he had no sight or hearing with which to do so anymore. He protected our cats like children, even letting them huddle in his doghouse during the rain and laying outside the door, keeping watch. He was nearly attacked by a wolf earlier this summer and he managed to get it to go away without harming him. When we tried to move him to a safer, fenced-in area, he layed by the gate, staring over at his spot until we moved him back. In his younger days, he was known for breaking any chain (even ones meant to keep horses chained up). He'd break his chain, go wandering around the neighborhood, and then come home later in the evening. He just liked to explore. A few weeks ago, he managed to get in one last hurrah. He somehow managed to break one last chain, even though he barely had the strength to lift his own body off the ground. He wandered around the neighborhood and ended up stopping to rest in a field off of Lone Oak. My dad and I were frantic and spent the day looking for him, sure we'd never see him again. When we found him, he just looked at us like, "Hey, can't a guy stop to take a rest?" My dad carried him home and it was one of the saddest and most beautiful things I've ever seen my dad do. As soon as we got him home, Duke started walking around his little yard like nothing had happened. And he started barking, which we had been praying he would do so we'd know where to find him. Even though Duke had a cough to rival any smoker's, his bark never weakened. Even in his weak condition, hobbling around his yard, coughing and grey, Duke never lost that air of strength and majesty that he always had.
He'd had a rough life. He'd been hurt by a neighborhood kid in the middle of the night and never quite trusted people the way he once had, but he never lost his faith in me, my brother, and my dad. He always came over and licked my hands and looked at me like a friend who had known me my whole life, which he was. He would sit at your feet forever if you stayed with him. And he was a lot of fun too. I remember when a very young and very adventurous Adam decided to take Duke for a walk. Duke was about Adam's size at the time and probably twice as strong and he ended up tying Adam to a tree. When my mom and I came out and found him, we forgot to untie him for a few minutes because we were laughing so hard.
I don't know. I'm not sure how many of my friends really know or remember Duke that well. I'm sure Eric remembers him, but that may be it. And, like I said, Duke didn't trust many people, so many people didn't get to really see how wonderful he really was. It's hard to remember life before Duke and, even though it isn't like I saw him every day or anything, it's hard to imagine life after him. Duke was the best dog a kid could have growing up. He really was a best friend. So long, boy. I'll miss you.
He'd had a rough life. He'd been hurt by a neighborhood kid in the middle of the night and never quite trusted people the way he once had, but he never lost his faith in me, my brother, and my dad. He always came over and licked my hands and looked at me like a friend who had known me my whole life, which he was. He would sit at your feet forever if you stayed with him. And he was a lot of fun too. I remember when a very young and very adventurous Adam decided to take Duke for a walk. Duke was about Adam's size at the time and probably twice as strong and he ended up tying Adam to a tree. When my mom and I came out and found him, we forgot to untie him for a few minutes because we were laughing so hard.
I don't know. I'm not sure how many of my friends really know or remember Duke that well. I'm sure Eric remembers him, but that may be it. And, like I said, Duke didn't trust many people, so many people didn't get to really see how wonderful he really was. It's hard to remember life before Duke and, even though it isn't like I saw him every day or anything, it's hard to imagine life after him. Duke was the best dog a kid could have growing up. He really was a best friend. So long, boy. I'll miss you.