"Let's Play!"

Missing My Friend

In August I lost my father to cancer and now intestinal lymphoma cancer has claimed a dear friend of mine. As a Southern male, we always hate the passing of a good dog. His name was Rocker and he was one of two Shar-Peis owned by the drummer of a blues & jazz group I belong to.

For nearly five years, Rocker was always there to lay around while we practice in the house. After the studio was added to his home, he and his sister Maggie would sometimes visit us during practice. Rocker was a character and was the alpha to me.

I enjoyed how he would always follow you around the house to get attention. He was always "upset" that he could not follow you into the bathroom. He would wait patiently for you and seem to say, "I don't understand why you closed the door. Please pet me and give me your full attention".

Rocker would always announce the band's presence if he saw you outside. He and Maggie would sometimes come running and barking and he would suddenly stop and stare. His eyes seem to communicate, "Oh, it just you!".

He would then walk around you to get attention and if Maggie saw that he was getting the attention, she would nudge in between us. Last year when Maggie became blind and deaf, he was a true sibling to his sister and didn't take advantage of her. She only had her sense of smell and he didn't mind that Maggie would sometimes walk through him.

I saw Rocker last week when I came to practice, he was barking and running around. I didn't get a chance to pet or play with him that day. I regret that now because I will miss scratching the folds of skin around his head and petting his sides, he was a caring spirit and he will be missed. His sister Maggie will no longer have her brother around to "guide" her in the house and snuggle next to.