Hangin' It Up

Dear Sophie,

What a fabulous Irish Rovers concert just a week ago tonight!  It was your sixth concert of theirs and, girl, you just ate up every minute of it!  You made lots of new friends, but it was the old friends you were happiest to see.  And they were glad to see you too.  George needed a little puppy loving and you were only too happy to snuggle right up.

The Rovers are on their Very Long Goodbye tour as a prelude to their retirement, so it seemed quite the fitting event to begin yours.  Sophie, I know you're tired and you really don't want to be a service dog anymore.  While I don't think you'll ever completely retire for good, at least until Cubby is fully settled into the job, I decided this concert outing would be your last.  We're hanging up your harness and promoting you to "pampered pet" who will enjoy a generous retirement package, including getting cheese on your kibble every time Cubby gets some. But he'll have to work for it.  You won't.  When he gets a Beggin' Strip after behaving in a restaurant, I'll come home and give you one too.  It'll be one perk after another for you.  Pretty cool, eh?

I can hardly believe this day has come.  Where did the years go?  They disappeared like a vapor trail behind us and now your whole career is over.  I love the adage, "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."  Oh, yes, my sweet girl, I'm smiling, rejoicing, giving thanks, and celebrating.  You've enriched my life so much, and given me freedom, confidence, and independence I couldn't have imagined.

What a career you've had.  You did your job so well, even when it became uncomfortably demanding and a lot more than you bargained for.  You accompanied me on 59 flights into 16 states (and a District).  Airplanes, trains, subways, buses ... you did it all, always carrying with you grace, strength, and focus; keeping me safe and balanced, and most of all, loved.

You've seen more in your 9-1/2 years than many dogs see in a hundred lifetimes.  I tried to make it fun for you and, for the most part, I think you were very happy.  I hope so.

Your harness and cape won't be passed down to Cubby.  He'll have to earn his own and he's well on his way to doing just that.  I used to worry about hurting your feelings as he stepped into your job but it doesn't seem to bother you at all.  You're perfectly happy to let him go for it.

So, my pretty girl, from the bottom of my heart I thank you so much for the eight years of faithful service you've so selflessly given.  I'll make your retirement as happy and peaceful as I possibly can, never allowing you to grow stale and bored.  You need to stay active and sharp.

Don't think that, just because I have Cubby now, you don't count anymore.  I always need you, and I'll always love you.

Happy Retirement, Big Girl.  You earned it!