Cooper . . . He was our protector. Seems silly to say so, because he was a golden retriever. He would never hurt a fly, but he could posture with the best of them. We were HIS to protect and watch out for. He was also an alpha, and when at the dog park, he determined the pecking order. He would play fetch until his heart stopped. He was my jogging mate for seven of his ten years - we ran hundreds of miles together. He channeled his inner wolf when he would let loose with a howl that would shake the neighborhood whenever a fire truck would go by. He was our road warrior - where we went on vacation for work, he went with us. He was in every facet of our lives. There was no dog who could equal his devotion, loyalty, and complete unconditional love. We lost him on August 31, 2023, and like his predecessor, Buckley, his ashes will be used each year to help our big potted flowers grow. The last teaspoon or two will be mixed with mine when it is time.

The ancient Egyptians believed that we experience two deaths - one when we take our last breath, and the other when our name is spoken for the last time. Every time we hear a fire truck, our heart aches, and we say his name. He was the bestest dog ever, and we still grieve, because it was too soon. It always is.