Adieu

Petey Holman (April 20, 1995 - May 28, 2010)

Fifteen years ago, Erica, her mother and I traveled over ten hours to Omaha, Nebraska to pick up a peculiar-looking Boston Terrier that we found through Erica's aunt.  We paid $150 for the dog. 

The breeder was so desperate to move Pete that she threw in Pete's mother, Spiffy Nifty as a bonus.  Erica's mom kept Spiffy.  My mother-in-law had a ball with Spiffy before she died a few years ago. 

Erica and I kept Pete.  For all the laughs and companionship he gave us, it was a steal of a deal.

Sadly, Petey passed away this afternoon at the ripe old age of 15.  He had been suffering for the past month or so with seizures, brain tumors, etc. and was not doing so well.  In truth, he's been a shell of his former self since 2007.  Doesn't matter whether it is a dog, a human or a salamander, it's tough to watch.  

This morning, Pete was really laboring.  We took him to the vet and were told he had developed a pulmonary edema.  We received some medicine and were told to give it a week.  He apparently had enough.  Four hours later, with all of us gathered around to say our goodbyes, Pete bid us a final adieu.

Pete took the single-malt scotch, the pig ears, the bigger dogs he humped, the stolen frisbees, the treats, the trips to Atlanta, the dogs he helped raise, the kids he cleaned up after, the late night cheeseburgers he ate, the beer he drank from Bill's mouth, the chocolate chip cookies he stole from Patrick, the rickety guillotine window, the Bowling Green, KY Wendy's, the Morgan-Monroe SF hikes, the midday naps, the 1086 Curry Drive laps, the close encounters with skunks and cows, and being my only true friend in law school with him.

We are heartbroken.