A Birthday Letter to Bandit

Sixteen years ago today, you were brought into this world. I didn’t know it yet, but you would singlehandedly alter my life for the better. It was months later that you and I would first meet at that shop in Vegas. Remember?!? Dev and I would pop in at least once a week for fish food or a mouse for Riley. 😞

We were waiting for our house to be built and were staying with Nicole for those few month. We had zero intention of having a pup. But we enjoyed playing with you. Each and every visit for months, your eyes would light up when we popped in. Eventually mine did the same when I started to see you. Mr. Peabody is what the folks at the shop called you because when you got excited, ya squirted a bit. But we named you Bandit as you absolutely had a little mask on that face. Your markings were striking and you were full of such life. So much fun playing in that little room. I remember a couple of times I didn’t even need fishnfood but just wanted to see you so I popped in...and played we did.

Nobody wanted a big Malamute in that Vegas heat. Thankfully that city is full of complete idiots and bad decision makers as you ended up coming home with us...well...to Nicole’s while we waited for the new pad to be finished. That was really thoughtful of her to allow that and I’m forever grateful for that decision.

You were stubborn as an ox at first. Well, that didn’t really fade but you always listened to me. You were also a bit of a baby. Remember how you wouldn’t go outside when we put the new mat on the floor?!? You were deathly afraid of it and we laughed so hard watching you attempt to jump over the mat to get in and out. You figured out it wasn’t going to kill ya eventually but we got some good laughs out of it.

I couldn’t believe I had this beautiful majestic and clumsy creature by my side. Unbeknownst to me, it was just the beginning of our adventures. We even added friends along the way. Bringing your bestie Bindi into the fold. Adding Kitano and then finally Maya. None of you were ever part of the plan. All of you came to the pack by a chance circumstance. Life is funny like that sometimes but I could not have planned it better.

For years we went on adventures together. Hiking Red Rock was fun. I still have the photos of you guys all muddy and gross. Lol. Of course I do. I have every photo. I have videos of you swimming in Pop Pop’s pool. You and Maya loved that pool and would dive in at every opportunity presented. Bindi and Tano...not so much.

You had so many friends from your cousin Sparkey, to Molly & Sarah. All of which were each smaller than your giant head. Yet, you were a gentle creature and allowed them to romp all over you and even “win” at wrestling. You would comfort me when I was blue. You protected me and the pack when there was a threat. You were pure perfection and I could not have asked for a better partner in life.

You were with me through a marriage and a divorce. Through a move actoss the country. Remember shorting all over the floor at the Red Roof Inn in the middle of the country when done trashy people were fighting in the hallway? Well I remember cleaning it up. Not cool man. While we are on the subject...your farts were the thing of legend and are still discussed somewhat frequently by the family. Those were total room clearers.

Fuck...here’s the part I was dreading. It’s the part I dread with you all. I remember being so shellshocked when you became ill. It was like a fog that I could barely see through. My world came crashing down. But...you handled it like a champ. The strongest boy I ever met. You owned it and persevered after the amputation. I couldn’t believe how well you did. I thought we had a world of time still...but life is funny sometimes. Othertimes it’s cruel and unfair. That’s how I would describe that fluke morning in February when we had to say goodbye. A freak case of Bloat reared it’s ugly head and broke my heart. You were beating Cancer just to win the unlucky lotto with Bloat. I hope you know I did everything boy. Everything possible. Even though I didn’t want it to be true, your eyes told me. It was the end of our journey together. So I held you tight...sobbing into your beautiful mane. I kissed you and I remember bawling...rockin back and forth...very similar to what I’m doing at this very second. Then...you were gone. Just like that. My life altered once again by you.

It took a long time to come to grips with your absence. I had the rest of the pack and the family to help me along, but it’s a big void to fill. Eventually I learned that it couldn’t be filled. I just had to go on and learn to deal with it in the most productive way possible. I still have my days or moments...but I’ve really tried hard to be positive when I think of you. Which is always. We have our words each and every morning and that’s something that will go on until I take my last breath. It’s how I honor you. It’s how I thank you. I’m eternally grateful and the luckiest man on the planet to have had such a loyal boy by my side for those 11 1/2 years. In a perfect world, we would be on adventures together forever. But in this imperfect world, I’ll have to settle for the memories of what we built together and go from there. You were my best friend and I love you more than stupid words could ever describe. I miss you every second of the day and I’m thankful for the chain of events that led me to you. Come visit me again in my dreams buddy. It’s been a while.

Happy would be 16th birthday Bandit. I’m going to be happy today...thinking fondly of our times together. Take care of your brother Tano too. Miss you both endlessly.

💔