It's hard to believe that a year has past since you made your final journey.
Equally as difficult to believe, is that it is almost 11 years, since the day we first met.
I remember, like it was yesterday, when I went to see you, your brothers and sisters. I didn't have decide on which pup I wanted, you chose me.
I've been reminded that you were a rowdy (some even called you out of control) pup, but I think peoples memories must be flawed. The first day I brought you home, I called you "Perfect Hondo", and so you remained your entire life. Mind you, you also acquired a few nicknames, Hondodoodles, Doodlebug, Hondude, Mypreciousbabyhondo, Bud, and a couple that aren't fit to print in this forum.
Perhaps you had an extended adolescence, um, until the age of 6, but that was fine with me. You see, I relished in your "joie de vie". You never failed to pick my spirits up, should they be low. You always greeted me with your unique boxer smile, that never failed to bring a smile to my face.
Your attendance 50+ obedience classes is a local legend. We never did manage to graduate. We just had too darn much fun. You did something crazy, I laughed, and you just did more. I know, it was my fault, but I couldn't help myself, you were just too funny. Thank goodness we had a wonderful and tolerant instructor.
Your conformation show career, never got off the ground. I was waiting for you to fill out and mature (I didn't realize it would take so long). Then one fateful night the decision was taken out of my hands. You escaped our fenced yard, and I thought I'd lost you forever. I was eight months pregnant, and on my own. Your were everything to me.
Then you casually strolled in about 2am, with that goofy grin on your face. I didn't know whether to hug you or kill you. So I hugged you and thanked God for keeping you safe. The next day, your wanderlust and potential show career were quickly ended with a few snips of the vet's instruments.
You never met a stranger. Even when confronted with someone who wasn't impressed with you, you never gave up trying to convert them. One of my favorite memories is that of your tenacious attitude toward one of my least favorite bosses. He wasn't a dog lover (or people lover for that matter). I faithfully took you to work with me everyday. At some point during the day, we'd run into the boss, and you, happy go lucky, would lope up to him, with your silly grin. He always would say "get away from me", and you would move about 4 feet away and start barking at him. Then the boss would get worried that you were to going to go after him. He never did understand that you were just expressing your opinion of him.
Always kindhearted, you welcomed Brianne into our lives. You were her shadow for her first few years. When Brianne moved from the crib to a bed, she insisted that you sleep with her every night. She couldn't fall alseep without you on her bed. And night after night, year after year you graciously complied with her wish.
As you matured, you became quite an ambassador for the boxer breed. As my constant companion, you were well know throughout Langley, and if for some reason you happened not to be with me, people would always ask how you were, before they'd ask how I was doing. Something in your character was like a magnet, drawing all types of people to you.
Your dedication, strength and stoicism are my inspiration for rescue work.
Sometimes when we're driving, Brianne will look upto the sky and say "Mommy, Hondo is up there watching over us". I tell her "yes sweetheart, I believe he is".
I miss you very much my friend. I miss the little things, the ear kisses and the woo woo's. I miss seeing your handsome face, and oh how I miss your smile.
We travelled an incredible journey together, sometimes difficult, but mostly happy. Although in my mind I knew our time together was finite, in my heart I never expected you to leave me. And, I guess you haven't left me, your spirit still fills my heart, and my memories of you are your legacy to me, held close in my heart, treasured always.