An ode and eulogy to my best furry friend and family member, Shreddies. Nine years together side by side, through the best and worst of times. Her presence was a real blessing in my life and I will never forget the way you loved me.

Hospitals always bring me back to my teenage years when my father became very ill until his eventual death at the young age of forty-two. Much of my teenage years consisted of lost opportunities that have grown into deep regrets weighing heavy on my heart and mind until this very day.

Over twenty years without a father, it’s a long time to go without a loved one, especially someone who usually holds a central role in your life. May 24th, 1992 was the day my father left this physical world, hopefully for an ethereal one.

I was once a baby, full of promise, an unwritten future with endless possibilities. I got the same speech most kids get, “You can grow up to be whomever you want to be.” however missing from that speech was some crucial information.