i have seen my dad cry 4 times in my life. the first one was when i was a kid, and i didn’t really understand our dog had passed away. the second one was when my parents were getting divorced, and my dad started crying while he and i were watching Castaway. he told me he really missed my mom and i didn’t know what to say. the third time my dad cried during my lifetime, i only heard him on the phone as he told me his brother had passed. and the fourth time was this weekend, as we said goodbye to the best dog in the world. she was with me for almost 14 out of the 30 years i’ve been alive, and she fought to the very last. when there was nothing else to be done and we had to say goodbye, my dad cried. i held him as we both wept.

-D