Simba The Sun

once, there lived a fascinating girl,

she is present, kind, and adventurous.

she grew up in a very small town, like one red light.

her presence is confirmed in a room filled with an abrupt roar of laughter,

she is whimsical, hilarious, and attentive.

when the girl moved away from that very small town, to begin her own,

she fought through, clearing a path for herself, and those behind her,

leaving a trail of glistening purity.

as the stars aligned,

her voyage took a winding turn down the path of unconditional love.

on the brightest of days, when she least expected it;

on her path - that she had been tirelessly paving,

she happened to stumbled across a little boy;

four fuzzy paws,

a frosty black nose,

two fluffy caramel colored ears,

and two big brown eyes,

a feisty protector turned trash collector,

an avid ball boy,

whos love for John Wayne was only matched by one.

a real cowboy who followed his girl, to the ends of the earth if she asked,

a fierce lover.

the most welcomed hello.

her soul split in two, she placed half of her heart with his inside a capsule,

although she had loved before, and many times over,

nothing compared to this.

nothing would ever compare to this - to him.

isn't it ironic - the way that time works?

you never notice it slipping through your fingers,

ten years just isn't enough, a lifetime just isn't enough,

not for a good dog.

she gathered up her strength.

found all the memories he had stored away, just for her.

the old girl walked her old boy to the bridge,

where the rainbow met the mountains,

and the mountains bowed to the meadows.

filled with trash trucks, balls aplenty, slow squirrels,

and plenty of digging dirt,

they sat there for awhile, waiting to let go.

she whispered her love for him,

held his paws, peered into those big brown eyes,

his honey colored fur clung to her,

she closed her eyes tight, told him there would be no one else like him.

he calmly looked up at her, and for the first time she heard his voice,

there is no one like you.

there is no letting go.

our time has come, but not to let go.

i will always be with you, just so you know.

there will never come a day where you cannot call for me, that i will not come running to your side.

look for me in the park where we play.

you'll see me on the west texas skyline; i'll be the brightest star,

shining for you.

what a time we have had,

this little bench before the bridge is where you can find me,

i'll be right here waiting for you, when it's your time to cross over.

never forget - that I chose you, and you chose me,

there will never be a we - without you and me.

you will always be my greatest love, my best girl.

i love you forever paw-ways - your son.

- Simba

Rest easy sweet Simba boy. We're looking out for your mom. We’ll never stop searching for divine signs of you and your beautiful presence.

There is a reason you are golden. Forever the golden boy.

For all of you who are here, hurting, healing or grieving, for the loss of a love greater than one could imagine; this is for you. This is for them. More loved than they could ever have imagined, too good, for us not to be consumed with effortless joy.

Oh, do you begin to count the years by the dogs you’ve loved. Animals too, but there’s just something about loving an old dog. This is for you, this is for Katherine C. Avery, for Ally and Loki. It’s for Bailey too.

For anyone who - as I once so lovingly heard it - ‘ripped a piece of their hearts to forever remain in an hour glass - where when the last grain of sand reaches the rest it’s sealed in a time capsule where that piece, forever remains’ -

It’s for you. For them.

Their memory lives on. In the piece of art you hang in their honor, in their first collar you kept. The plush raccoon, bunny, dragon that's immortalized. Their place on the mantle, or under their favorite tree. Wherever or whatever it may be. They live on. And we begrudgingly say ‘see you soon’