This is the fun part, eventually. Do something ridiculous. Plant a tree and call it Sir Snugglesworth. Get a tattoo of their paw print (make sure it’s not upside down – I speak from experience).
Write down the dumbest thing they ever did. The time they ate a whole stick of butter, wrapper and all. The time they barked at a statue for ten minutes. Laugh about it.
Their job wasn’t to be perfect. It was to make your life weirder and better. So—on the hard days—be weird yourself. Eat a chicken nugget in their honor. Leave it on the floor for exactly five seconds, then eat it. They’d approve.
The Sneaky, Silent Side Effect
Here’s the thing nobody warns you about: you’ll feel guilty when you stop crying. You’ll go a whole afternoon without thinking about them, and then panic. “Oh no, am I forgetting them?!”
No. You’re healing. And your dog would be thrilled you finally remembered to eat a vegetable. They’re not keeping score. They never did.
