Day 62

     Katie played with Play dough today.  She loves Play dough.  She also talked a lot today - still not as much as before, but it was so wonderful to hear her chatter on with her Play dough "babies" that mommy and Grandma made for her.  She is such a sweet little thing.  She loves to play "mommy" - and even cuter, recently, she loves to play like she is a baby.  She is funny.
     Last night we had a difficult event in our lives.  After I posted on the blog, my dog of 15+ years, unexpectedly died.  She was fine and then she wasn't...and then she was gone.  Her name is Cozette.  We called her Cozy.  She was a gift to me from my parents when I moved to Arizona, at the age of 28.  When I moved here I was single and alone.  I had roommates for a couple of years, but after that, it was just Cozy and I.  Cozy became more than a dog to me.  Because I was "old" and single, she became my "baby".  At times, she was the only companionship I had.  My family lives out of state and I lived alone.  Cozy was my constant companion for all those years - she kept me company and was my friend.  When my parents got sick and my dad died, she helped me get through all of those changes.  When I got married, I was almost 39 years old, and Cozy 10.  Scott came to the marriage with 4 children, I came with Cozy.  Then came Conner and Katie.  That dog and I went through a lot of life changes together.  She helped me get through each one.  She was a constant source of comfort and love.  This past 2 months, she has been especially comforting to me, and in her own way, she helped get me through it.
     Cozy had her quirks, but no one could doubt her love or faithfulness to me.  Cozy was literally my shadow for 15 years.  I was never alone, she was always within arms reach.  She never left my side.  She followed me wherever I went, room to room.  Even when I showered, she would wait on the bath mat in the bathroom.  (Which to some, I am sure, that sounds irritating, but to me, it was endearing).  Cozy had an unconditional love for me that can not be described or replaced.  I grieve her loss.  She didn't know she was a dog...I "humanized" her when I was single and she never learned otherwise. 
     After me, Katie was the one, who loved Cozy the most.  Katie loves puppies, but especially her Cozy.  Conner was right after her, he just didn't like Cozy's "stinky kisses".   Katie, Conner and I would often play like Cozy was a Polar Bear or a White Tiger, we would play peek-a-boo with her and hide and go seek.  Cozy would go with our family on bike rides, walks, and car rides.  Cozy always came home with us to New Mexico.  And when she was left at home, what a greeting we would get, every time, upon returning! -Even if we just went to the grocery store.  She was a good, faithful, loving and loyal dog.  She can not be replaced.   I will miss all the laughter she brought into our home with Katie and Conner.  I will miss her unconditional love.  I will miss my little "shadow". 
     Today I am glad Cozy lived such a long life.  I may have taken care of her, but really, she is the one who took care of me, all these years.  I am grateful to her.