Marcel

Marcel died. I tried to find a nice poem, or thought to post..but, none seem to do the trick. We got Marcel when I was around 16..He would sleep on the edge of my bed..sometimes hogging a pillow..and when I went to college he claimed my bed for his own..When I suffered a broken heart and was huddled in my bed..I would hear his dog tags jingle and a thump on my bed..he was always the loyal companion..After I moved away from home and would come back for a visit he would race around the house like a greyhound..welcoming me back.those short legs could move fast...

When Marcel first met Shane he greeted him with his loud sniff.. Not very welcoming but that was how he welcomed pretty much eveyone...Some dogs jump, lick or bark..Marcel would have an asthma attack.He loved Shane..Because, Shane introduced him to table food..Who knows what secrets Shane and Marcel had regarding snacks..All I know is that Shane was miraculously eating his vegetables and Marcel was always sitting very close to his chair..

The kids loved ole Marcel..He would go on nature walks in the backyard..chasing away anything that could harm them..squirrels, dragon flies, frogs.. He would lay right next them when they watched cartoons..And, sit real close to the baby in the high chair..

When we saw him at Christmas..the spring in his step was gone..and his running from room to room was replaced by a limp to his basket..He tired quickly and you would hear him snoring (loudly) during the day..We knew his time was drawing near but, like Mary Grace said "I don't remember a time without Marcel..."

Because I have a bit of dork in me..I would sing this song to Marcel..all the time..seriously..Here's to you buddy..You were a good dog right through it all..