Somtimes the day arrives when you have to break away from high school sports to say good-bye to a true friend. Sometimes that friend is someone who never spoke a word in his life, but his actions, loyality, and genuine friendship spoke volumes that could be heard without words. Today, my family feels an emptiness, a void that I know countless other people have experienced. Trust me though, you never, ever fathom what it is like until you feel the heartache. They know. And now I know, ands especially a girl named Erin.
My wife Carla and I have two of the greatest children in the world, but just by circumstances, we have no grandchildren yet. Our most prized friend was named Murphy. In all my 63 years I have never seen somebody who was like this guy. Everywhere he went, people would turn and look. He was a strikingly beautiful sight, not one you would see in a normal day’s journey. He was patient when folks wanted to get close. He was receptive, but always reserved and dignified. Murphy loved baseball and he loved marching bands. Can’t tell you why. Just sat there, watched and smiled. His face was shaped to smile, and that he did. That radiant smile brightened countless days for us all. To see his smile was like a million rays of sunshine.
My wife and Murphy would walk often. He always loved that. But his best friend in the world was Erin. Murphy was there when she was happy, and there when she was sad. He never changed. His loyality never waivered or distracted. Murphy never held a grudge, always forgave, and taught all of us how to love bigger, cherish the good times, and most of all, how to bond and never flinch through thick and thin.
Murphy developed stomach cancer 6 months ago. He was hurting so much of the time, but never wanted to show it. Erin could see it in his eyes. I could see it. Those loyal, loving eyes became cloudy. They danced less. But this special being never let his wrenching pain get in the way of his loyality and his true-blue friendship. He fought until the end to keep us from the heartache he knew we would suffer if he left us.
Today, Erin saw he could face it no longer. The gut wrenching decision had to be made. Murphy hung on until the last moment. The moment until his loving heart stopped beating. He gave all of us kisses in his final days as if saying good-bye. Our dear friend was reaching out for help, yet he did not want his human counterparts to mourn. That’s why he would have hung on until he dropped. But that’s why Erin was there. He took care of Erin from day one, and now it was her turn and it was painfully difficult but Murphy had to go with dignity. He would want it that way.
I know that I have learned a lesson on how to live from Murphy. He will be sorely missed. I can’t even begin to explain. I pray my daughter Erin will alright because in my wildest imagination, I truly could not comprehend her heartache. They just don’t pass though our lives all that often…..those like Murphy Lee. This old man has been blessed to have crossed paths with so many beautiful people in my life. I have learned things from them all, but not as much I have drawn from my friend Murphy Lee.
And to think………Murphy Lee was a dog.
We’ll see you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, my good friend. Save a place for Erin and show me around when I get there. And please forgive us when we weep. It’s a human thing, you see.
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…..a very special thanks to my sweet sister Sheri and her husband James from Lincoln who came yesterday. Their wonderful love and understanding of animals helped us through this.
Murphy Lee
