[spoiledbabies3]

I now have 3 beloved angels to watch over me…Samson left the pain of this world behind and joined his sister and brother at the bridge tonight…His body could no longer fight the fierce aggression of the horrid cancer…He took a very big piece of my heart with him and I am certain Sasha and Tuxedo were standing at the front of the line to greet his arrival…

I will never to be the same because of this boy whose heart of patience and sweet generosity changed my life from the moment he stepped into it – 4 weeks old, he waddled right up to me and barked for the first time, melting me…Such a novice rottweiler owner, I didn’t have a clue what was ahead for us…Not knowing the path that would bond our hearts together for life…Samson -- my teacher, my companion, my protector, my inspiration, my love -- Always teaching me how to stop and enjoy the simple things -- to see the world through his eyes…Our favorite times – smelling the flowers or the freshly mowed grass, playing in the cuttings before Dad could clean them up, sitting on the deck and watching the hummingbirds feed or the butterflies grab the sweet nectar…We saw many a sunrise on our sleepless nights and enjoyed the moonlight of the full moons on the cool fall evenings…We could sit for hours and just enjoy the sounds and sights of nature…Never in a hurry, never letting life pass by without inhaling it’s full blessings…

He chose to give me an unconditional love that only he could provide, irregardless of my human faults…He portrayed the true measure of unconditional love…He never cared where we were or what we were doing – as long as we were together…He gave me the most precious gift he could – his spirit and his soul…Teaching me to be humble and simply love life, whenever he greeted me he never noticed if I was cross or stubborn…He whisked away my moodiness and replaced it with sheer joy as he bounded to me in greeting…He didn’t care what had happened in my day…He was simply ecstatic to see me, to be with me, to cover my face with slobbery kisses…

Our fast runs and long walks became shorter as the years passed -- both HD and arthritis caused the hips not to work so well…We slowed the pace and enjoyed the special moments of time carved out just for us…Watching him grow from that cute, cuddly, snuggly pupper into such a handsome, dashing adult…Sweet, fond memories --his roly poly belly dragging on the kitchen tile when he first came home, …The many Halloween evenings when the children snuggled up on him -- watching the years go by only evident in the distinguished greying muzzle…Capturing Christmas morning opening the presents and stockings or Thanksgiving with the big brown soulful eyes speaking to me and begging for just that one little bite of old Tom Turkey…

These are the memories that I will cherish in my heart…My ever patient teacher, he helped me to realize there are so many that needed my help…My inspiration, he showed my heart the path to rescue -- first Sasha, then Moses and most recently Déjà Vu… He held my heart through many trials and tribulations – I don’t think I would have found the way out without him…He is the reason I am who I have become today… It is time now to let him continue the journey he has started, yet this piece of the path must be without me…Although my heart breaks to know we can no longer snuggle together, I know that he now no longer suffers with the pain of his body in this world…His journey has come full circle…He will now wait patiently at the bridge for mine to do the same…

Godspeed my sweet boy…My heart and my life will never be the same…You touched me like no other…Fly high on your golden wings…Our souls will be forever connected… Until we meet again…I love you…