10 Things that I Miss the Most about Mr. Barnaby

On Valentine’s Day, Mr. Barnaby died suddenly. My Pirate had stopped to pick up some macarons at my favorite bakery for a gift. He asked for one of each flavor not realizing that they have over 30 flavors. He had just handed me my gift and we were laughing at the huge amount of cookies. Mr. Barnaby was racing around the house with his joyful zoomies as we laughed and clapped and cheered him on. Then he suddenly collapsed. We both ran to him and held him in our arms telling him that we loved him as he breathed his last couple of breaths. And then he was gone. Just as quickly and joyfully as he ran into our lives, he had run out with us cheering him across the rainbow bridge. 

Here the ten things that I miss the most about Mr. Barnaby. 

One

Mr. Barnaby was my lap dog. I wasn’t a big fan of this at first and always wished that he was My Pirate’s lap dog. But, he chose me. Now, I miss sitting on the couch without his head on my lap or chest. He snuggled in tight and always made me feel safe. And he’d always put his head on my feet when I was writing at the table.

Two

Mr. Barnaby loved to putter in the garden with me from the first day that we brought him home. He’d help dig holes with me, carry around sticks and pinecones, and supervise my projects. The patio furniture footrests were one of his favorite spots.

Three

He loved to steal my garden hat and hold it hostage for a treat. He could fold the whole hat up inside his mouth.

Four

I miss his company in the bathroom. I didn’t pee or shower alone for almost 7 years. And he loved to request a drink out of the bathroom sink while I was in there. 

Five

Every morning, he would place his face a couple inches away from mine and look deeply into my eyes. It was like he was checking in with me to see what kind of day we had in store for us.

Six

Drool. I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but I miss all of his drool. On the windows, walls, my clothing, and the car. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to scrub his drool off of the patio door. 

Seven

He loved the cardboard TP roll. He would keep an eye on the TP roll just to know when he was getting a new treasure. And when he did, he would race around the house like a bucking bronco and hold onto it until just the right moment to chew it up.

Eight

Zoomies. I loved how he would race around the house and I’d hold onto a piece of furniture for cover. A couple of times he knocked me over like a bowling pin. He was so joyful. And the greetings that he gave My Pirate were epic.

Nine

Everything was good in Mr. Barnaby’s world when he gave me his bottom toothed grin. He loved to watch The Great British Bake Off and would sit on the footrest and grin at me. I couldn’t see the whole tv screen, but I didn’t care. 

Ten

I miss his evening bark. Every evening he would go outside and bark and then listen to the responses of the other dogs in the neighborhood. Just like in the 101 Dalmatians movie. 

I miss Mr. Barnaby. He brought so much joy and many new friends into my life. We adapted our garden to fit him and now we’re left with a beautiful oasis filled with wonderful memories of him. I’m so grateful that he came into our lives when he did. And I just wish that we could have had one more summer with him. He was an original.