Seriously, in my laundry basket?!?!?!

I woke up this morning, looked over the ledge of my bed and found Otis curled up in the laundry basket full of my clean sheets, brand new duvet cover and bath robe. I was furious and quickly shooed him out of the basket. What a brat! (Seriously, it was kind of cute, BUT he was in BIG trouble.)

Then, as I ate my breakfast I looked over at Otis, curled up in his own bed and couldn't help but smile at his cuteness. My dog is absolutely amazing! I know I'm his Mom, so of course I'm going to say this, but there could not be a better behaved dog out there. He's my family, and he's a great friend.

When I wake up in the morning, hair a mess, no make up and grouchy, Otis is still there, giving me my morning kisses. When I get home in the evening and all I want to do is make a quick dinner and lounge around, Otis is OK with that. He greets me when I walk in like he hasn't seen me in days and then makes himself scarce. When I've had a terrible day, he senses it and cuddles up to me, making sure I'm not alone. The dog has literally caught my tears in his ears ("His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears."). Otis is always by my side, no matter my mood, the day, the activity, who I'm with, he's always there (when I let him be), and he never complains. And while he is a dirty old man (Love Pig), he's my baby boy.

I can't imagine what my life would be without this little guy (although his 'dad' has threatened to take him back a lot lately, blah). I don't write this blog to upset those who have recently lost their dogs, but to maybe bring up some memories that you have...although he's gone, he was amazing while he was here.

While many say dogs are 'just dogs', they are a part of our lives, and they have a huge influence in making us who we are today. Because of this, they'll always be with us, whether it's physcially, or only in our thoughts. Once we lose our friend, there will never ever be a replacement, that's a fact. These little creatures who don't talk, can't cry and will not give advice, are one-of-a-kind. And the thing is, they don't have to be able to do these things, and that's probably what makes them so great, because all they have to do is rest their head on our lap, look up at us with their big eyes, and be....then, everything is better, even if it's just temporarily.

Dedicated to Tanner's Momma. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." I know you will miss him, but wasn't he just SO amazing while he was here?! I know he will always have a BIG place in your heart. Tanner, you will be missed. (And O-Town - you rock, you pesky little thing.)