Kirby Bracken 1992-2008

Just a Dog

From time to time people tell me” lighten up, it’s just a dog” or,” that’s a lot of money for just a dog” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for ‘just a dog.’

Some of my proudest moments have come about with’ just a dog.’ Many hours have passed and my only company was’ just a dog’ but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by ‘just a dog’, and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of ‘just a dog’ gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you too, think it’s ‘just a dog’ then you will probably understand phrases like ‘just a friend’ ‘just a sunrise,’ or ‘just a promise’. ‘Just a dog’ brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. ’Just a dog’ brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of ‘just a dog’ I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not ‘just a dog’ but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment

‘Just a dog’ brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not ‘just a dog’ but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being’ just a human’

So the next time you hear the phrase ‘just a dog’ just smile, because they ’ just don’t understand’.