Today is Goodbye Day

Well, the day has come.  It always does.

Tatum is one fine Golden.  He is a GREAT dog!  This morning he made me laugh so hard.  He was laying outside by the pool and I was still waking up in bed.  Our door going outside was wide open for Tatum to go in and out.  Suddenly, we heard a rustling noise on the other side of our fence.  He jumped up startled and next thing I knew he was galloping full speed and with one amazing jump, landed in bed next to me.  (My bed is one of those extra high off the ground beds)  We were eye to eye and nose to nose.  Tatum is so big ...... and he is a scaredy cat.  Oh, my!  What fun!  Then he jumped off the bed with sheer joy and started running wildly fast all through the house.  He jumped so high into the air - virtually impossible for a dog his size.  I was in awe.  This was my golden rescue with a newly amputated toe from cancer.  Wow!  Next, Tatum grabbed his pink toy pig and flew out the door like lightning! (yes, pigs can fly!)  I ran out after him afraid he might hurt himself.  He then began to run around the yard in circles, only pausing long enough to see if I was watching.  Abruptly, he stopped, cocked his head and focused intensely on me. Uh, oh!   My mouth dropped wide open and then I froze. Tatum reared up on his hind legs and with reckless abandon he took one giant lunge and sped towards me with pure love in his eyes.  He was running as fast as he could leaping and bounding with excitement and happiness and in full force.  I held my breath terrified, but smiling at the same time.  It was an electrifying moment like none other.  It was his gift to me.  Tatum dodged me at the very last minute, as if he was Tom Cruise in Top Gun, and I laughed and laughed and laughed so hard, deep from within my soul.......until I started to cry.  Here are the tears I told myself I wouldn't shed this time.  He is magic.  He is special and he is saying goodbye.

Tatum