Hey buddy,
Time sure flies, doesn’t it? I didn’t realize how big of a place you would come to hold in my heart when I found you over a decade ago.
I remember holding you in my hands as we drove home from the Walmart parking lot in 2012. You weren’t something I had planned for, but you were exactly what I needed.
We covered thousands of miles together going on the casual drive to the store with the windows down or the 600 mile drive to Florida.
You were content to sleep the day away in bed or run right beside me down the wet sand of the beach as the sun came up.
You’d sneak down to the kitchen with me for that midnight snack and scamper back up the stairs with a successful mission accomplished.
The magic words of “wanna go?”, “cheese”, “treat” or “squirrel” sparked an excitement and energy that said you were ready for anything.
Your happy trot towards wherever we were going made people smile and you didn’t know what a stranger was.
Regardless of just having a bath, you ran to the backyard and rolled in the grass. You taught me not to miss the little moments of happiness and joy just because they weren’t on the schedule.
Your relentless need to lick people drove me crazy some days, but it broke the barriers for so many who just needed to feel unconditional love.
You taught me to hunker down in the storms and stay close to those we love. It didn’t matter where I was, if you were next to your family, you were safe.
You taught me to lay in the dirt, soak up the sun and be a little goofy. Because, sometimes, that’s what we need.
You taught me the immense power that a silent hug and presence can have for the seasons we hurt.
You were with me in high school, through college, in Texas, in Florida, and then back to Texas. At home, at work and on vacation. Through the cold days of winter and the hot days of summer. You were right there beside me in the highs, the lows and everything in between.
You made me laugh and you pressed against me as I cried. We watched each other grow up and celebrated life together. You were my best friend that always leaned in, loved and reminded me “it’s gonna be okay”.
Even on our last day together, your big brown eyes looked at me and reminded me once more, “I love you and It’s gonna be okay”
Thank you so much for being my best buddy, Ian. I love you and I miss you.