FARE THEE WELL MY BRIGHT STAR

I had to say good bye to my sweet Dakota this past week. He was 13 and was showing his age really bad. He had lost so much weight this past year, and had just really gotten old. All I can say, is good bye my sweet boy. I have never loved an animal as much as I have loved him. I have my sweet Sadie, and LOVE her the same, but Kota will always have a very special place in my heart. He got me through one of the hardest times in my life. He was my confidant, my shoulder to cry on, and really my only friend in the world at that time. He was the reason I got up in the morning, and would come and butt my arm with his head when I was so down and just sitting in the yard wondering where my life was headed. He made me smile when I felt I couldn't.
There is a part in the movie Marley and Me, when Jennifer Aniston has a miss carriage and she doesn't cry until she gets home and holds Marley, their dog and then she lets go. I have been there. Kota was that for me. the only one who I showed my true feelings too. The only one. I didn't have a miss carriage, but I lost one of my best friends in the world, and Kota was the only one who I felt I could share my feelings of loss with, because nobody knew how much I loved this guy, and I couldn't believe I wasn't going to have any more late night phone calls with him, or sneak up to Salt Lake to spend time with him and see his sweet smiling face. I didn't think I was going to be able to go on, and Dakota knew that. Some how, that sweet dog knew and saved me. I will always think of him in the summer evenings when the wind blows and I can smell the sweet smell of the linden trees in my parents yard.
My heart hurts today as I am typing this, but I know he is MUCH better off. I love you Kota Bear, and I will NEVER forget what you did for me.
I took this picture a few days ago when we were out in my parents back yard playing. It was the last time He and Sadie were together. Such an odd couple. Big huge lab, and tiny, dainty Italian greyhound. They were truly soul mates. Sadie will miss him too. I don't know how I will look out my parents back door and not see that sweet blonde face any more. And hear that tail wagging against the sliding glass door. He was the most loved dog. My mom and dad took such good care of him. He was so spoiled and loved. He was so NOT a house dog, but every time I went up there, he was in the house by the back door on the rug. He loved my mom so much. She is an AMAZING person and really loved him, and I thank her and my sweet dad so much for taking such good care of my first baby.
So, as we have to say good bye to another loved one in our family, I am just grateful for the memories and time spent with all of them.
So, fare thee well my bright star. I will never forget you my sweet Dakota.