A Wake For An Honoured Guest...

Gather around and hoist a cold one of your choosing, for it is time for me to toast the memory of teh Kate.

*pours a cold Sierra Nevada into the glass*

I remember the time when we were going to entertain guests at the house. I had spent a few hours marinating some steaks and when they were almost ready for the grill, I left the bowl containing the steaks on the counter while I went outside to double check the grill's readiness.

I remember coming back in two minutes later to find an empty bowl and Katy was suddenly not anywhere around. I found her in the bedroom, laying on her bed with one of the biggest guilty looks I have ever seen.

It didn't take me more than a second to catch a whiff of steak breath to know without a doubt as to where the evening's feast went to. I was so mad at first, but just seeing that priceless look on her gob proved that I was truly just a softy at heart.

"How'd it taste, brat?" I grinned at her as she sunk down as low as she could. Then, she gave the slightest of burps and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, ok. You're still grounded, kid. No fetch for you this evening!"

She gave me a sigh that practically said, "Sorry, Dad. It was just too much to resist."

She'd snatch the ocassional dinner every now and then, so I learned that if I was going to make something tasty like hamburgers, I'd better make her one as well. Just hold the pickles! was the unspoken request.

Salut!

*Downs a sip*

Now, my brother reminded me last night of the time when I used Katy to help me play a prank on a SO, who was a pre-k teacher. The SO had been cutting out huge die cuts of letters to use in her classroom. I remember taking a picture of Katy standing over a pile of one letter that I had arranged on the floor in particular.

"Sorry, dear," I aplogized as I passed over the picture I had taken, "Katy 'P'd on the floor earlier and I thought you just had to see..."

Yep, I had taken a pile of die cuts of the letter P, spread them on the floor and had Katy stand over them as I took a picture.

Good times!

*Downs another gulp*

I remember when Katy had puppies. She had been a 'teenage mom', getting with a black lab during her first heat instead of the golden retriever that I had in mind for her when she had her second heat.

Even then, I still remember that long day and into the night as I stood vigil with her. If one ever wants to experience the joys of new life and hasn't had a kid, helping to bring puppies into the world is probably the closest thing.

She was so brave and I had never been prouder of her. The experience of raising puppies, while messy, was one of the cherished pet memories I've had. I remember Katy being with me as each puppy left for a good home. If she wasn't happy with the prospective owner, no deal. Judging by the homes that her kids went to, Katy had a good sense of who were truly Good People.

It's a lot of comfort to me that my folks have one of her puppies. At least I can still see something of her in Cocoa. Think I'll pop down for a surprise visit to give my grandpuppy a hug this week!

Cheers!

*Another one down the hatch*

When we had the house fire that essentially made us temporarily homeless, I remember how much I relied on Katy for support. I know it seems strange to some, but I know that she knew that things were very amiss and her reaction to it was to try to be strong.

She stuck by me that whole time and no matter how depressed I was or whatever else I was going through in life, she was always there to snuggle right next to me and let me know that she was there. That she cared.

That meant more to me than I think either of us realized. We may have lost our home and the cards may have been stacked against us for awhile, but she was there to see me through.

I remember how she was after my grandmothers died, both a year apart from each other. I didn't want to leave the house, let alone crack a smile, yet Katy always found a way to make me chuckle by her antics.

Big hearted kid, she was.

Here's one in honour of my friend in thick and thin!

*A long gulp for the love of that big, strawberry blonde clown!*

I remember that some of the best times were floating down the river. She'd get her own tube and while she seemed to spend half the trip happily swimming circles around the tubes, she was having the time of her life.

Some of the other best times we had were usually rides that we'd take in my truck. She loved nothing more than a long car ride because it meant that we were going on an adventure. Even if that adventure was to boring places such as the bank, or unwelcome places, such as the vet for her annual checkup. It was still something fun and exciting in her eyes.

Here's to those who find amusement in the most ordinary of circumstances...

*Another long sip*

Finally, here's a final toast to her memory. Thank you Katy for your lessons in taking things easy in life and for your love. I will never forget you. Fair winds and all the medium-rare steaks you can eat to ya kid.

Here's to Katy, the best friend a guy could have!

*Drains glass*