We got a Christmas ornament a while back that said, “Home is where your lab left the ball”. This couldn’t more true, and hits home more than ever now that our lab has crossed the rainbow bridge. The first morning after having to part with our sweet old boy I walked into our backyard to try to get a breath of fresh air. I stepped out and let the sun warm my face, and upon opening my eyes I was greeted with a yard littered with tennis balls. My heart cracked open and tears began to stream down my face.
There’s nothing I can do to truly honor the dog that graced my life with his presence. How do you summarize the impact such a pure soul had on you? I had started to write a book about him, and hoped to finish it before he left. Now I’m even more determined to share his story. I had met Castle at a time in my life when I was totally lost. I wasn’t interested in dating, but when I met my now husband and he took me to his house on our first date, I looked at Castle and we instantly connected. From then on he was with us for every step of our growth, through moving to a new state, graduating college, marriage, starting a family, and then moving back home. He got to be there for each of my children, who he promptly adopted as his babies and kept careful watch 24/7.
Castle was the type of dog who always knew who needed him most in a room. He was the quietest dog I’ve ever know. He really never barked. He was full of patience and wisdom, he was an observer. As a lab, naturally his two favorite things were tennis balls and swimming. He could fetch or swim all day long until he could no longer stand. He had puppy spirit his whole life, even when his muzzle sugared.
Dogs really are angels on earth. There will always be a spot in my heart reserved for Castle. A dog’s love knows no bounds. A dog’s love is a warm neck for you to nuzzle into, or drape your arms around. A dog’s love is a ball dropped at your feet as they eagerly await you to throw it. A dog’s love is being your shadow. A dog’s love is the nose prints left on doors every time they tried to push their way in. A dog’s love is pure.
Castle was a fortress, a fortress of love and loyalty.
