Two Weeks Ago, I Said Goodbye To My (Four-Legged) Best Friend

Reflecting on the indescribable joy that dogs bring to our lives, and the heartbreak of when they leave them.

It had been years since I had cried, honestly. Though i’ve never really been afraid of showing my emotions, I couldn’t tell you the last time it had happened.

(Actually, I did shed quite a few tears of happiness last July, literally seconds after the birth of my daughter; again, no shame in my game. But, for these intents and purposes, that doesn’t count)

Yet several years ago, on one random weekday evening, I was scrolling through some social media feed, when I stumbled upon the “My Dog: The Paradox” cartoon by Matthew Inman, the brilliant writer and illustrator who runs TheOatmeal.com.

In said cartoon, Inman hilariously takes us through the dual-sided perspective of an owner and his dog named Rambo. I’ll save you my recap, because no matter how I describe it, I simply won’t be doing its brilliance and heart-warming-ness (I know that’s not a word) any justice

What I will tell you, however, is that my dog’s name, coincidentally, was also Rambo.

(It still hurts, so much, to write that last verb in the past tense)