I lost Ruth today. My little pup, not my cousin (details are important).

We had just over fifteen years together, and my heart has a crack in it tonight from her departure. But the crack makes room for a boatload of gratitude that we had that much time together, and that’s a good thing.

I was a twenty four year old newlywed when Ruth came into my life. She was my first dog. We grew up together in a lot of ways. The little eight week old pound puppy that kind of looked like the love child of some aggressive back alley action between a rat and a squirrel.

But the Ru was a scruffalicious force of the Awesome. She charmed people almost everywhere she went. An intrepid little soul. Even as an old lady, she was always the first one up in the morning, and had twice the energy of the other two dogs less than half her age.

Ruth lived by two rules: let’s be together always, and let’s eat. They were great rules (especially if you are going to spend a decade and a half with an Italian). I hope I did her love, devotion, and time justice.

I don’t have much shit figured out, so I can’t say for sure, but I hope Ruth’s awesome little dog light shines on on the other side.

Rest in peace pup. Big loves.