I've been trying to think of the right way to remember my family's dog, Boone. This picture helps tell a story that my words never could. Look at how happy he is. Smiling out at my family's farm, which my family affectionately calls, "Doggie Disney Land."

Unfortunately, last week, he was hit by a car and passed away. The sudden shock of losing a pet is a feeling I have never known before. Usually, when my dogs got older, I had a feeling that their time would be up soon simply because of their age. But Boone was only 5 years old... young, for a dog. He was snatched away from my family and I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

I think that's been the hardest part for me... not being able to say goodbye. I'm glad that the last time I saw him, he was being a sweet dog and snuck up onto my lap while I was sitting on the patio talking with my dad and his friends. He was an expert snuggler. I like to believe that I taught him that when he was a puppy. I'd always sneak down into the basement right before bed and get down on the floor with him. He'd get into my lap and we'd just lay there. I'd tell him that he was my favorite. He still is.

His snuggling knew no bounds. He was sneaky... he would always try to snuggle with you wherever you were. If you were sitting on the futon, he'd come up and let you pet him, then turn around and just start sneaking his haunches up onto the futon, till he was about halfway onto it. Then, he'd look up at you with the most innocent look. Like, "Don't you want me to sit with you?" and that was it. Game over. 

My sister loved Boone so much that she was inspired to get a dog of her own. I'm sure you've seen him around here... he serves as the mascot of my Facebook page. Boone and Finn were half brothers. "Brothers from another mother," we always liked to say. They were so much alike, and they had their own little rivalry in my parent's backyard. They would "joust" back and forth, competing for attention, much to the chagrin of my dad's lawn. After a few months, the grass turned into mud and now the backyard looks like a pig pen. 

Boone seemed worried that he would be forgotten when Finn arrived, so he'd usually let Finn compete for attention, get bored and go somewhere else. I tried to make sure to greet Boone first every time both of the dogs were around, just so he knew who was my favorite. I'd like to think that he appreciated that. 

Now, it's strange to only see one dog when I go home where I would usually see two. Finn and Boone were so much alike that sometimes I have to do a double take when I see Finn. Poor guy, I bet he's really confused and sad wondering where his jousting buddy is. I'll tell you where he is... Doggie Heaven aka "The Great Doggie Disney Land in the Sky."