A sweet gift SOLC ‘22 (22/31)

I remember the day Brian brought the little puppy, red bow and all, to school. I was a reading intervention teacher then in West Virginia. All of my colleagues “Oo-ed and awed” over the pup and then he was swept away.

I remember going to Wal-Mart after school and getting all the puppy things I could fit in my cart. I had no clue what was in store for me.

I had no clue that this little tiny fur ball would be the best companion for the next thirteen years. I had no idea the void of loss would be slowly filled by this sweet boy. I had no idea the amount of times a dog could go out so much. I also had no idea how stubborn a dog could be.

I had no idea that this little pup would be so jealous of our first baby. I had no idea that they would later become friends. I had no idea that this dog would be a permanent fixture as we grew our family. I had no idea that looking back at family photos, this little pup would be in almost every one in some way, perched on the couch, laying next to a baby crib, longingly waiting for table scraps under a cooing toddler, or lazily dreaming beside a Christmas tree.

I had no idea this boundless ball of energy would one day slow down, eyes clouding, no less full of love. I had no idea I would never really sleep through the night again because of our midnight potty breaks. I had no idea the miles we would cover on our walks at the Hurricane City Park, then around the neighborhood in Stuart Hall, and finally in Eagle Ridge.

I had no idea that I would spend so much time to make you comfortable during those last years. So much time at the vet, money for medications, time cleaning up messes.

I had no idea I could love a pup so much but I did.

In memory of Scooter P. Peters. You drove everyone else crazy because you were really “mine”.

Scooter P. 🤍