Goodbye, Sophie

Last night, after we got back from the grocery store, I had two missed calls on my cellphone. I didn't recognize the number, and the caller had hit "1" to page me. I called back, and the man, Frank, introduced himself to me. He said that he had some bad news. I immediately got nervous.

He said that he was out very late on Monday night looking for his lost cat. While he was out, he found a dog that had been hit by a car. After seeing our posters, he was sure that it was Sophie. Being a very nice man, and considering that he was looking for a lost pet himself, he said that he couldn't leave here there. So, he picked her up and took her home and put her in a box to bury.

As it turns out, Frank lives just down the street from us. He asked me if I wanted him to bring her to us. He offered to keep her and bury her himself. I said no, that we would take care of it, and he said that he would bring her over.

DJ and I went out and bought a shovel. Then we met Frank and put Sophie in the backyard under a tree. We wanted her there with us - in our backyard, forever a part of our family.

I will never forget yesterday. I will always miss Sophie - "yittle Soph." I will never forget how the kindness of a stranger offered us some peace and comfort on a very difficult day. And I will never forget crying with my husband over the loss of a beloved pet.

Goodbye, Sophie. We will miss you and love you always.