I'll Be Seeing You

He was a very old man, never married, and had no family that lived near by. His real family became his neighbors who knew of his many walks and short visits on the sidewalks and walkways of the neighborhood.

His small meager abode was on a quiet street in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin, his neighbors knew his routine and his precious companion, who was with him for many years. They walked together four or five times a day, in the neighborhood or through the preserves near the town.

Seasons of togetherness, times of smiles and happy tails, of the funny things they shared and the daily neighborly visits, stopping by to say hello or getting treats and sometimes a take home cooked meal. These were the people of a little town who really had neighborly love and proved it whenever they could.

His life and his companion, touched many around them. They were loved by their neighbors and they were monitored regularly, just because they were living alone and the neighbors cared. They were now both elderly, walking every day and evening because it was still fun being together and just caring for each other the best way they knew how. They still stood by each others side, walking on the sidewalks and paths of the nearby reserve. Slowly, stopping to watch the children and allowing them to pet his Buddy. They even slept together, one at the head of the bed and the other on the foot of the bed.

His dog was failing, and having a hard time getting up, and difficulty with the long walks sometimes, that took them over an hour. The Wisconsin weather was not always kind, but they took full advantage of the good days that did come along. Every day the dog was slowing down and not too agreeable to going for walks anymore. The old man knew, he saw and felt, his old walking partner in disagreement with the old man's plans to go out for a little exercise.

The dog had been ill for sometime, but the old man couldn't put him down. He kept the dog alive with love and tenderness and made sure the dog was in response to him. In his healthier days, the dog slept at the foot of the old man's bed, only now he was kept in a laundry room with a warm blanket and bed due to uncontrollable bodily functions. Many mornings were spent by his loyal and loving caregiver cleaning the area where the dog slept. Feeding him slowly, with love and encouragement, washing his fur as best he could and rubbing him dry with tender pats.

The old man arose one morning seeing his best friend had passed on during the night. I heard, the man cried for many hours, and then silence. He cleaned him as best he could and took his remains to be cremated and the next day he picked up the beautiful urn with the dog's ashes inside and came home to the house he now really realized was lonely, silent and empty.

The old man, was proud to show his urn, and told everyone "he is home now and I will put him at the foot of the bed where he always slept". And he did just that, because he wanted him near again, he needed that comfort.

The next day, when the old man did not show up at a local retail store where his job was handing out dog food coupons, someone went to his home to check on him. They walked into the little house, everything neatly in order, and silent. Not a sound to be heard, nothing out of place. No break in was suspected.

As they entered the bedroom, there the old man was, deathly asleep with his companion's urn. Now, at the foot of the bed, where he had slept for many years. Now, again in companionship with his master, dreaming of the new adventures for tomorrow's walk. Together now, maybe walking heaven's streets, or maybe some other beautiful place of wonder?

I am sure the old man was met by his long time companion, waiting again for him to come home. Waiting for the walk in the woods near the bay where the ducks played on the luscious lawns and geese haggling and chasing squirrels.

The funeral was attended by a few hundred people, friends and neighbors. Although I never met him, I would have liked to attend, and say good bye to a man who loved his dog the way I love mine and the way his neighbors cared so much for the both of them. These were real neighbors, real friends in a harsh world that usually ignores the elderly. Real, feeling people who cared for this old man and his dog. People, you don't meet too much now a days. People I want to know.

I heard they spoke about their loyalty to each other, the visits they made to their neighbors on their many walks together. Now, they were all looking at the urn in the casket with the old man, remembering the smiles and wagging tails of visitation as they did their daily wanderings through the neighborhood of loving and caring people.

They all said their good byes, with prayers and soft smiles for the pair who would once again walk together, forever. I'll be seeing you, because I am a friend, too.