Mr. Deebs

This past week on the Compound has been the longest and most painful 7 days of our lives. I'm truly at a loss for the right words and not sure they will ever come correctly. As I sit here looking at Oskar gazing out the window from the kitchen couch, I cannot help but feel my heart crack for the millionth time this week.

There are a limited few who understand in its entirety the mass amount of love that I have for the dogs in my life. There are quite a few who don't and I'm OK with that. Because they don't know what they are missing out on.

Gus, Gus-a-mus, Musman, Gustopher, UG the younger, came crashing into everyone's life like hell on wheels. He was literally more stubborn than Schultz and I had a twinge of "you guys don't know what you're in for" towards Greg and Holly. Quickly followed by a maniacal laugh. I was privileged to make the voyage of picking that little guy up with Maaah, MUG and The Kid. Their wait was finally over.

We went to training classes together with the Dudeman and I got such a laugh watching Holly and Gus together. "Cause nobody controls UG.....C?" Admittedly the worst dog in class but the funniest too. He had a fire in his eyes that was nothing less than trouble but he could melt my heart in a beat when he chose to.

We had numerous morning walks together all four of us wondering what kind of adventure we were going to have today. With all the skunks, p-pines, things that make noises that must be as big as a dinosaur [or a chipmunk], screeching birds, hissing massive nuclear sized owls, ducks, snakes, geese, sandpipers and seagulls nothing was ignored. The talent that Gus had jumping up and around a p-pine was nothing short of spectacular. It was terrifying to watch and yet somewhat amazing. I will always be convinced that he was trying to get Dudeman into trouble and would sound the alert as soon as Holly and I approached the scene of the crime.

He didn't start off right away playing ball. That came after a long stint with a busted leg and 8 weeks in a harness. I can still see him dragging Holly across the yard in the snow. When the addiction set in, Musman had his own set of rules. He would hide under, around or behind anything he could find. You would literally be calling out to him because you had no idea where he went. And after a mild panic attack you would turn around and he would be "right here C!!"

On his good days he would wiggle like a worm or as we termed it "the ding-a-ding" and nothing was more welcoming then his face at the door anticipating a belly bump and an ear piercing bark. The race down to the car in the morning before our walks so he could get a cookie and leave no room for Oskar to get into the car. He was, by all accounts, a Jerk....but I love him for it. I always said he got all his bad habits from Schultzy.

I don't know how they create the magic that they do. I never knew that my heart had that much ability to love. And to Holly I say this: "Nothing but love Maaaah" [inside joke]. I feel lucky to have experienced what they bring into my life more than once. And I would do anything to take away the hurt, pain, sadness, anger and loss.

It isn't fair.

As I whispered into his fuzzy little ear that he needed to stay strong for just a little longer and that when he closed his eyes Schultzy, Ivan, Boris, Baxter and G-baby would be waiting for him so he wouldn't be alone. And I promised him that I would take care of MUG, The Kid and Maaah so he didn't have to worry about them. I knew looking into those amber eyes he understood.

I will love you forever Mustopher. I will miss seeing your face every single day. I hope there are MB's, Ice Cream, Slim Jims, Steak Tips and NO RICE where ever you are. I hope you find lots of birds, tennis balls, large roaming fields to run and bark and nap in. And one day I will see you again....And I'll remember to bring the Chuck-IT!!!

Half Stash and Red Neck Teeth February 2010 Fort Foster

AR & UG

And because they all get a song: For Musman May 2007 - July 2011