Forever Young!

Bailey....what to say about such a great companion. Bailey has been around since this Yerger family was just starting out, we were just dating when Jaesen let me pick out "his" dog. And what a choice I made. At first we weren't so sure that it was a good one, she ate window sills, shoes, door frames, drywall, a brand new sofa (our first piece of furniture we ever bought!), and ran through countless screen doors. But, she came around...she could party with the Marines in flight school and run forever on the beach. She learned to body surf and we would literally have to drag her from the water before she would drown herself. Bailey loved playing catch, she would fetch and fetch and fetch some more, never tiring, always teasing you with dropping the ball just out of your reach so she could snatch it up again and run away.. Bailey gave us ten of the most adorable puppies you could ever imagine, some are already waiting for her on the other side. That was our first foray into parenthood, taking care of ten puppies during flight school may not have been the best decision at the time, but we sure are thankful for her wonderful son, Merlin, who is going to be heartsick in the coming days. You have been a constant companion to me dear dog, when Daddy was gone on multiple deployments, sitting with me through my own pregnancies, always there. I am going to miss you so much, there aren't even words to describe the loss that I already feel in my heart. Tomorrow is going to be so hard...I know Jaesen thinks that you are his dog, but with him being gone so much, I kind of think that you are mine, we have spent more time together over the years and I know that it is time to let you go, but it is oh so hard for me. I will remember how you always went on walkabouts, just up and leave the yard. One day we found you in someone else's garage with another black lab....just laying there being friends. I will remember when you were a puppy and we were driving from TX to LA and you got into a bag of candy and had a piece of licorice stuck to your nose, you thought you were being so sly, but with the licorice on your nose and jujubees in your teeth your secret was obvious. Your love of the water, I think you could just live in a lake. How we taught you to say your name....how you love peanut butter...how you helped to raise three humans as well as 10 puppies....how you played with ferrets, and cats, and sing when the kids would play the harmonica or violin. There are too many memories...I sit here with tears streaming down my face, wondering if you know how hard this is for us, do you feel loved? Do you think you had a great life? I hope so, we certainly tried and your loss will be felt for a long time. Know this Bailey, you were a part of this family, and this family will have a hole. Love you Bailey Dog!