ode to gizmo

The weekend before Christmas we found out that my childhood dog of 14 yrs had a tumor in his mouth that was rapidly growing and causing him a lot of pain.  I knew the day would soon come when we would lose him, but I was really hoping we wouldn't have to make the decision to put him down and that he would just die peacefully on his own.  We knew this was probably the best way since he was only going to be in more and more pain.  We decided to give him as much love as we could through Christmas and then the day after we put him down.  It was a sad day for all of us since he has been in our lives for so long.  I remember when we got him 14 yrs ago.   I was only 12 and in 6^th grade when my mom and I went and picked him out of his litter.  He was just a little fluff ball and was the.cutest.puppy.ever!!  He has been such a good dog through all these years and we are so sad to see him go!  

I will forever remember...
how soft and cuddly he was.
how he would run around and chase his squeaky toy.
how he would play hide and seek with us and spaz out when my mom would hide.
how he would sleep under the covers with me every night and keep me warm.
how he would howl when I would sing to him.
how he would somehow always know when I was going to give him a bath and would run from me while his whole body would shiver in fear.
how he would sit in the bathtub patiently after I had washed him (I think he secretly loved his baths even though he would always hate getting in.)
how he would run around the entire house after he had been bathed and then run to me after so I would blow dry his fur.
how he would LOVE getting blow dried and would just sit perfectly still letting the warm air blow through his fur and look up at me like I was the best person in the world.
how he would hop through the snow like a bunny.
how we would sprint like a lightning bold down our street chasing our car and beat us to our house.
how he would run to the door to welcome me home after a long day.
how he would be there to cuddle with me when I was upset.
how even though in the last few years of his life, when he was getting old and crippled, he would wag his tail when he saw me to prove, in the only way he could, that he still loved me.

My heart will always have a spot for my sweet, sweet Giz.

Cute Audrie and Carley drew pictures for Gizmo.  Audrie's says: "Dear  Gismo, hope you have a grate life in heven.  We all love you very much."  Well, said Audge!  We love you Gizzy!