See you again, Diggy. A note from your mom.

Dear Diggy,

15 years ago I picked you out from a picture. I chose you because they called you boots and boots was my grandpas nickname, so it felt like fate.  However many weeks later I picked you up from the airport with the Phoebe and Lindsay.   I got you at a time when I had no real business getting a dog let alone a puppy. But I know as I sit here with you years later that even though I was young, I did right by you.

We have had so many adventures. We lived in California for law school. Mom shipped you for me in a sweater she made.  She’s here with you now.  So many times you made her go to bed when she didn’t want to bc you stood at the stairs whining.  In California, and everywhere, You touched so many lives there, you truly were the Lawschool dog.  I remember when mom visited and she was out walking you and Brandon walked by, who she didn’t know, and he said hi to you.  You may recall you spilled a full bowl of soup in Brandon’s lap.  You just were that dog - engaging, dynamic, a trouble maker and everyone loved you.  We went to Texas with your dad who is also right here with you.  You baked yourself to death in the sun, loving every second of it.  You came all sorts of places with us. You kept me company there when I had no friends and knew no one.

We drove home to Virginia and took you on another gas station tour of America. You loved gas stations. We stopped in New Orleans where we took our favorite photo of you perhaps of all time.

We have been in Virginia for almost 10 years. We lived with a roommate in Alexandria who you manipulated and stole food from. We took you to the beach where you again roasted in the sun. We went hiking and to wineries and on so many walks. You went to parties with us, restaurants, and I brought you to stores probably before it was appropriate. We couldn’t bring you to our wedding but you were there as a cut out and in spirit.  Finally we bought you this dream house where you spent the last two years exploring the yard and rolling in things until you couldn’t anymore.

You’ve been my constant companion in life, truly a dog like no other.  During genuinely very hard times you were with me and I am forever grateful.  You tolerated Otto these past two years and for that I’m grateful as well. It was a lot to ask of an old man who largely looks out only for himself and still hasn’t accepted that we got jazz 7 years ago.

Though so tiny now, you will leave a massive hole in our hearts and lives. Your absence from our home is larger than I ever could have anticipated. You are everywhere here, and yet you are nowhere. I am certain I’ll never find another dog so human like, so intelligent. So deliberate in his actions.  Patrice always said you were a human dictator from another life trapped in the body of a dog, a tiny tyrant. She’s not wrong.

Thank you Diggy. I love you. Please visit me when you have time. I’ll be looking for you.

Love, your mom.