It is through watery eyes that I write about a precious doggy soul who is now resting in peace. Barcelo was our friend Eric and Laura's beautiful boxer. They had to put him down today way earlier in his life than they wanted to, but he was sick and weak, and needed to be laid to rest. I have been crying about it for the last 2 days and am trying to get my head around what's so hard about it for me.
I think it's emotional because my heart breaks for Eric and Laura, and because besides being such a sweet, fun dog, Barcelo represents a lot. He was their first 'baby,' and I will never forget going to see him for the first time at 7 weeks old the chilly night they brought him home in his little mini fleece. They had just gotten married, and named him after their honeymoon resort in Mexico. He officially made them a family. That night was also one of the first times we were ever over at Eric and Laura's house. We had been acquaintances. I went to high school with Eric, and we had some mutual friends, but Jeremiah had just started working out with him at the gym, and we were starting to get to know Laura. We were engaged to be married the following spring. I feel like we needed couple friends at that point in time, and meeting Barcelo that night marked the beginning of a friendship that we cherish.
When Barcelo was just about a year old, Eric and Laura also picked up a sassy little Italian greyhound/rat terrier mix at the pet store. He was on clearance, and they couldn't resist. We ended up with him the next night because Barcelo was still a big puppy and would scoop him up and slide him across the floor with his big paws or pin him down to play and the little guy just kept coming back for more. This was clearly not going to work out so well, given their size difference at the time. Jeremiah had just told me we could start looking for a little dog for our little apartment, so we went to Eric and Laura's armed with a checkbook and brought him home that night. Now we were a family too.
I like to think there would be no Mico without Barcelo, and as Mico got bigger they were able to play and become fast friends. We named him Mico because he is part Italian and the Italian word for friend is 'amico.' Fitting.
I firmly believe that God created dogs to be our companions, and help us understand how to live more fully and love more deeply. The kind of love that just shows up and is always present; at the door when you walk in, curled up behind your knees on the couch, and alongside you on a walk. Quietly, steadily, just there. Barcelo was just that - gentle, sturdy love in the form of a wagging nubbin tale, a wrinkly concerned forehead, and velvety ears. We all learned a lot from Barcelo - that you should run with abandon through fields sometimes, not caring that your big cheeks are flapping in the wind and drool is flying everywhere. He taught us that anybody can be a friend no matter how different from you they might be, playing with Mico who was 1/4 of his size and treating him as an equal. Most importantly, he taught us that no matter how big and strong you are, sometimes you just need to lean your heavy head into someone you love, or let them carry you for a while.
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