With wind in my face
Whistling through the gap between my front teeth
From the forced smile brought on by
Sandy waiting on the corner of Mary and James
Knowing exactly when to start the race
That no one would lose at the finish line
Two out of six legs peddling on Proud Mary
The other four flat out in a short steady rhythm
Nails clicking on the sidewalk
All the way to the corner of Alexander
Always ending with a hug and a big wet kiss
Just another game Sandy loved

Without regard Sandy would just disappear
Be gone for days, and then reappear
Pass silent but dead ones in total sleep
Lingering enough to gag
Eye watering, mouth and nose covering
Thick enough to touch your funny bone
There was no getting around it
That was Sandy

Playing like an otter in drifts of snow
Was it the cooling effect on the belly?
Or just the thrill of the ride?
Now and then one of life's mysteries

One day while chasing some white tail down
Sandy faded to the north
Missing our worried ride home
Only to be waiting on the front porch
Calmly stretched out on the top step
Smiling from ear to ear
That was amazing!
To beat us home like that!
Stuff like that was seen on television
Like Timmy's best friend
I witnessed first hand as a youth
Living in my own home movie
Was one of life's best supporting actors
True and loyal to the end
I've been blessed in this lifetime
To have had Sandy as a friend
We'll shake hands again some day
We'll hug and race once more
Sit together and watch a setting sun

Eternal friends
A boy and his dog

07/20/1977