'Chawlie'

   Two years ago this evening, I lost my most bestest friend in the whole wide world. We got her when I was about three years old and we were inseparable since we first laid eyes on each other. Being our first family pet, my parents decided to let me name the new puppy, and being a child, I obviously named her 'Carley' (it was between this and 'Sunflower' which I thought over long and hard about). Naturally, a child tends to name various things over their basic characteristics like 'Fluffly', 'Meow', or cliche companion names like 'Fido' etc. (where the extremely humanistic name Carley came from baffles me to this day, but it really did suit her perfectly). The neighbourhood kids, along with my baby brother and I, always had a difficult time pronouncing Carley: hence the nickname Chawlie. 
   I'll never forget the night she passed away. It was on a night just like tonight two years back, and I was at a Tragically Hip show in town. I recall just having a terrible old time at the otherwise amazing concert for truly no good reason (Carley had been fine previous the show). Something inside me just knew that something was wrong and I ended up being a grumpypants all night. When I got home, I came home to a very ill little soul. I laid outside with her for hours just talking to her and assuring her that everything was alright and that it was ok for her to let go now. I repeatedly told her how much I loved her and how much I would miss her. 
   She was quite old and we all new that she wasn't going to make much longer, but this was really the most shocking moment regardless. Carely passed away on her own terms, naturally of old age in her sleep and surrounded by her family. 

Rest in Peace my little lady!

(P.S. my apologies for the depressing blog post - more photos of fruit and flowers coming soon! haha).