patrick.net

Written by my friend this week - it's about a neighborhood dog who adopted our neighborhood. The little guy walked into my doggy door and ate my dog's food... half-heartedly chased my cats and was quite the character:

"Way back in November when it was cold and mother nature was being nasty, I needed a mood picker-upper, something to smile about. So I let my mind wander and came up with this.

I want to say something about a dog I know, Dexter, Dex for short. He lives a couple of houses south of my place in a fenced yard meant to keep dogs from bothering the neighbors. But Dex is a free spirit an escape artist of sorts so he's become a community dog. Ask anyone if they've seen Dex recently and you'll get a smile and an affirmative head shake. He doesn't wear a dog tag stamped with his name, but everyone knows Dex.

He's a little mutt some what shy of twenty pounds. But skinny is not a word you could apply to Dex. He isn't emaciated with protruding ribs, and starving stare, he's just physically fit. Of course he couldn't be anything but fit, being on the run all day like he is. He starts early, about day break. Making his rounds spreading his brand of doggy cheer. One stop on his daily route is my back door. He'll show up hopping on three legs but when I check the raised paw, the one that may have picked up a sticker, or thorn, I won't find anything wrong. Dex the master con artist with his bag of tricks to get my attention and a bit of sympathy. I don't feel used or duped and gladly hand out a few dog treats. He'll gobble them up, give me an appreciative tail wag and tear off to his next stop.

Dex must be the happiest dog I've ever known. I don 't believe in much but I do believe he's a minor force of nature put on this earth to bring joy and warm fuzziness to all who encounter him.

That bit of wool gathering, cheered me up in November, making that day a lot better. But then, thinking of Dex always lightened my step and brightened any day.

Sadly Dex is no longer with us in flesh and blood, only in spirit. But what a spirit. I spend many afternoons setting on the front porch watching clouds form imaginary ducks, crocodiles and puppies. Just passing the time. And I know some day, maybe many days, I'll see Dex chasing rabbits high above the mountains. Doing what he loved. And who knows he may catch one some time in eternity.

There was a time before Dex, a time with Dex and now a sad time after Dex. But there will always be a smile on my lips when I think of Dexter flashing through the sage brush chasing something only he could see.

RIP Dexter, a true legend in his own time."