Dear Jet,

It only makes sense to write you a letter. It’s a very human thing to do, but there have been many days we treated you like a human so this is only right. Tomorrow afternoon, my family will do something very difficult. We will say goodbye to you, our faithful friend, after almost 15 years.

I am very torn tonight, because I won’t be there tomorrow to say goodbye. I suppose, if I really wanted to, I could be. But I know, I just know, that I’d lose it. I’m a chicken. I don’t want to see your questioning eyes, or have to look at my dad, and my mom, and my sister, and my brother. Because then, I’d bawl and weep like a little kid. One of the worst parts about losing you is that you’re a part of our childhood. When we say goodbye to you, we are reminded that life has slowly changed since the day when we welcomed you home as a young family.

I still remember when my dad showed up with you, so tiny you were! We’d been begging for a puppy. Secretly, my dad was thrilled we did the begging for him. He wanted you even more than we did.  I think my mom could resist my dad, but I don’t think she could resist us. We promised to pick up your poop and take you on walks. We rarely did. Instead, she took on that role, day in and day out. Dad’s role was to keep you well bathed, and to throw the tennis ball all the way down the cul-de-sac to get you nice and tired. In the early years, you were a constant bundle of energy.

Our role, as your faithful older “siblings”, was to cuddle and call you silly names like Bugaboo and Jetter Bear. I loved playing hide-and-seek with you, and letting you crawl up on my lap as if you only weighed 5 pounds.

Oh sure, there were times you made me very, very angry. I still don’t think I’ve forgiven you for that one time when, after I’d spent all afternoon making Valentine’s cookies for my first high school boyfriend, you hoisted yourself up on the counter and ate them- every.single.one. Ooooo, I was so mad! I’m sure my mom has many more tales of your bad behavior, including finding “surprises” around the house every now and then. But, I think she’ll agree with me that you’ve been worth it.

You have been a love to us, Jet, as a family and as individuals. You are the reason I beg Jonathan for a puppy. You gave us a lot of laughter and were a companion that doesn’t choose sides. (Except you did always have dad as your favorite. It’s okay–somedays, you were his favorite out of all of us too!)

With a lot of sadness, we say goodbye to you. Everyone has different ideas of what heaven will look like. Tonight, my heaven includes you waiting for us to throw tennis balls.

Love, Lesley