Goodbye to a Great One

We found out that our cousin Culeng, who owned the large male biped's brother's family, passed away after a long illness. There is a certain amount of grief, of course, but he was not in good shape (his spleen had been surgically removed), and he had lived over twelve years. He certainly had a good life and was loved by all, and with all the pain he was in, well, he's not hurting anymore. He was one of the best. I think mostly I'm typing this not so much for grief but as a tribute. He lived his life as a dog should: loyal, fun, a protector, a friend, and even an inadvertent entertainer. He will be missed.

He was half black lab, half some ranch mixed breed that they get in western Argentina. He was a big guy, too. He could put his paws on the shoulder of his and our male bipeds, who are both over six feet tall. And he was strong, that kind of strong that can only come from growing up at altitude in the country. But he was a gentle giant. In fact, before Beau and I showed up, he was the one who showed out small bipeds that dogs, even big scary-looking dogs, aren't always mean and can be your best friend. For that, Beau and I owe him, because we wouldn't be in this home without him.

When his bipeds moved back to the states, there was no question of Culeng's fate: he came with them to America and was an immigrant success story right out of a Horatio Alger novel. He led a good life with good people, and I can only wish we all could have as good a time as he did on this ball of mud. Goodbye, my friend. You will be missed.