The Story of Chester

"In my life I find that memories of the spirit linger and sweeten
long after memories of the brain have faded. " Will Morris, "My Dog Skip"

For the first time in eleven and a half years I am alone in my home. Our little dog, Chesterfield Baker died today. He was our nearly twelve year old Jack Russell Terrier. Chad took the girls to his Dad's for a while because they just absolutely demanded to go. I don't blame them, after all, it has been a really sad day here in our home and well, he has cookies. My children have been learning a lot about death in the past few weeks and months. I knew today was going to be the day, I knew he wasn't going to make it. He literally stood on all fours in his bed last night. He went out this morning, fell down the steps and I had to move him to the grass because he just couldn't move his legs. His breathing was heavy and raspy...the tumors just got the best of him.

Chad got him when we had been married only for two years as a Christmas present for me. We were living at a private boarding school at the time. Sometimes the kids would leave the door open and he would just bolt like lightening. He maybe weighed six pounds, and he really just looked like a little ball of white light zooming around campus. I could never catch him. It would usually take an hour to get him, and it required about five people. He also used to love to play basketball in the gym. He was the original Air Bud. About a year after we got him, my little brother Patrick moved in for several years and Chester became his best buddy. Chester and Patrick have always missed each other. They were childhood friends. Like Willie Morris and Skip from "My Dog Skip".

He has been through nearly every move, he was there when we went from place to place, and he was there with Chad when I was gone for extended periods of time for work. He was there when we were young and now we are older. He was always there. He was a constant.

When Noelle was born five years ago, Chester was knocked off of his pedestal. He was no longer our baby. He also hated babies and repeatedly tried to attack them, so we kept him in a different room and he was mostly by himself. He was still happy, but not the center of attention. Recently the children have taken an interest in Chester. He aged quickly, and became very slow and less reactive. Noelle just started petting him in the last month. She decided that she loved him a while back, even though she was still afraid of him. More recently she began hugging him and giving him kisses. Jolie as well. Yesterday I found Chester in the den with an ace bandage wrapped around his head. Dr. Noelle was trying to make him feel better. They miss their friend.

So last week we visited my Dad's grave and decorated it. I had the opportunity to explain death to the girls. Jolie only hears what a nearly three old can hear, but Noelle has been listening very closely. My next blog will be about the lessons they are learning, but for now, I will just say... I am so very sad to see the end to a very big chapter of our lives. Goodbye Chester, my little friend. I love you.