Ode to Oscar

I still feel like writing this whole entry feels very surreal. What a month it has been, a really terrible month actually. I usually try to always put a positive spin and view on everything but sometimes I just think you need to embrace the idea that its not always roses and sunshine. Just short of two weeks ago we lost a member of our family. Our sweet, forever puppy Oscar.

Oscar was actually Bren’s birthday gift for his 20 or 21^st Birthday, we still debate this point. What an adorable puppy we brought home that day, all wrinkles, soft, wet nose and huge paws. We did the “anti-runt” theory and bought the dog with the biggest paws thinking he would be healthy and not deal with the usual Olde English Bulldog health issues. He had a tough upbringing with Bjorn the wrestling cat, those two would wrestle and always romp around the house with each other. Half the time it felt like having kids and saying to the other one quit picking on your brother. They would also work together ala’ Garfield and Ode style to scheme to get the Cat to push food off the counter only to have Oscar break through the packaging to get to the goodies.

Oscar was such a personality. If you had met our dog I can pretty much guarantee you never forgot him. Between all of his wrinkles and personality we were always convinced he was a Pinocchio puppy. He really didn’t know he was a dog, he always thought he was a little boy. When our little boy Quinn came into this world Oscar just seemed to think he got lucky with a little brother he loved. He wanted to play and be apart of anything Quinn was doing. When I was home on maternity leave, I would put Quinn on a blanket to play and I would do the same with Oscar.

Oscar had a great life, he was such a big part of both Brendan and I’s twenties. He had lived with us in Washington, Michigan, Minnesota and Utah. We met life long best friends through him and at times he was our only friend when we moved to new places. Losing him was a little like closing a chapter in our lives. You could always count on him to wag his little gas cap tail when you got home, and nuzzle into your ear and neck if he got the chance. He truly was a wonder puppy living with epilepsy for over seven years and even one time eating rat poison and not getting sick.

Saying goodbye was terrible but peaceful in the same sense. I know he knew he was so loved and he loved us. I truly believe someday he will be there and the first to greet us when we go to heaven. Dogs are something special, love your animal a little more tonight and don’t take for granted all the unconditional love they always return to you.

Love,

Alyssa, Bren, Quinn and Bjorn Kitty