Thirteen and a half years, doesn’t seem like that  much. But times seven that’s ninety five years he gave to me─to us. I couldn’t – shouldn’t ask for more. As summer turned into fall he had multiple bouts with pneumonia, at last the frustrated vet took an ultrasound which showed a heart that was just a giant tumor. He looked at us with a question mark and we nodded yes.

As the sedative went in by IV he looked at me─at us with that same love of thirteen and a half years in his eyes; then he lay his chin on his forelegs and closed his eyes, at peace.

I walked slowly through this stately place just to see if it would help.