To My Beautiful Lexi
1/31/2011 – 10/27/2025
From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew. I didn’t understand why or how, but I felt it deep in my bones. You and I were meant to walk through this life together. The world had given you challenges, traumas, and losses that no dog should ever endure. Yet you came into my life at exactly the right moment. I needed you just as much as you needed me.
You arrived with a past heavy with uncertainty, fear, and trauma. From the very beginning, I saw in you what others might have missed—strength, courage, hope, and an unquenchable spark that refused to be extinguished. Though the world had hurt you, you remained hopeful. You were cautious, unsure, yet somehow, you chose me. In that sacred moment, when I looked into your eyes and you into mine, we made a promise. Nothing could ever break that bond.
You were a forever-hopeful pup, my sweet Lexi. Together we faced life’s fires, and even in the shadow of illness, you showed me what it means to never surrender. You taught me patience, resilience, unwavering hope, and a love so profound that words can only gesture toward it.
I will never forget the way you would prance with your front paws when joy took hold of you—your own private dance of celebration. Every wag, every hop, every sparkle in your eyes was a reminder that life, even with its hardships, is to be lived fully.
Watching you in Rally-O was pure joy. You blossomed into the confident, skilled pup I always knew you could be. When the trainer worked with you, you would shine like the star you were, yet never failed to check in with me. Halfway through the course, you’d break away, running toward me with that radiant, triumphant look as if to say, “I’m doing it! I’m doing it! Isn’t it wonderful?” And then you’d dash back to the trainer, full of joy, like nothing could stop you. In those moments, I saw the true heart of you—a heart that loved with everything it had, that pranced through life with hope and pride.
You filled our home with your presence—your breath, your paws clicking on the floor, your hopeful eyes watching me as I ate or prepared for a walk. You were always ready for the next adventure, the next treat, the next car ride with the windows rolled down—the next opportunity to share your joy.
I miss the soft rhythm of your breathing at night, the way you would settle in knowing you were safe and loved, knowing I was right there beside you.
You loved me, and I loved you. What we shared transcended human words and canine gestures. Our love—and the silent, sacred ways we communicated—bridged species. No words were needed; we understood each other wholly, intuitively. Your eyes carried a language of love, trust, and devotion that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
I miss the way you always made sure I was there—on the sidelines, in the car, walking beside me, sharing your meals and your joy. I miss the way you transformed ordinary moments into celebrations of life. Most of all, I miss the way you filled my heart, my entire being, and our home.
You were more than a pup—you were a presence, a companion of spirit and soul. You were my partner, my family, my comfort—my soul pup.
On October 27, 2025, you transitioned from physical to spirit—a day of endings and beginnings. My book was published that same day, a bittersweet moment. It was also the birthday of my late wife, your other human companion, whom we lost to cancer. Your human brother, whom you loved, was next to us. My new wife and your human companion, who adored and loved you, wanted to be with us in person but couldn’t. She joined us on video as you peacefully transitioned—just weeks before she would finally be able to travel freely.
In those final moments, you brought us together. Love, grief, memory, and presence intertwined. You chose that day, Lexi—a day already full of tenderness—to leave your body. You left a deafening silence that fills the room and my heart, a void that carries your spirit in every memory, every heartbeat, every ache.
Even though I cannot hold you in my arms or run my fingers through your soft, thick fur, I still feel you in the quiet moments. When I drive through our neighborhood or walk the paths where you once sniffed every favorite spot, I sense your spirit. I carry you, honoring the love, light, and joy you gave me.
Who rescued whom? In truth, we rescued each other. You were my heart’s companion, my soul’s mirror, and I will love you beyond measure, always.
I miss you fiercely.
YouTube of you on the Rally-O course:
https://youtu.be/lGWzTJMxq3w
