Good Bye Dear Friend

It was Sunday the 2nd of June a day I shall never forget, not for Coronation day, but for the day a dear friend and companion departed this world.
Saturday morning Tara was up and about eager to go for her walk, we set off at our usual time, Tara bouncing about sniffing strange smells as usual.
I knew the bouncing would not last long soon she will tire and slow down, and so it did, when we reached the path we always used she slowed down and walked with her rolling gait, I am a fast walker, I like to do this to keep my heart pumping at a faster rate for short periods of time.
On we walked Tara lagging behind stopping to eat grass as she does, I sometimes wondered if she is a sheep dog.
I got to a junction in the path and waited for her to catch me up, poor old girl she ran a short distance then ambled a bit, stopping to sniff at things and having a pee, I blew my whistle to get her attention and on she trotted and walked to catch me up.
When she caught me up her eyes rolled and she looked up at me and I could read her mind, I imagined she was saying “slow down Buster I am built for comfort not for speed” I patted her and said I understand girl, she wagged her tail looked at me, as I said shall we go back, she turned and headed back the way we had come.
We don’t do long walks these days, Poor Tara wasn’t up to them anymore.
We arrived back home, she waited patiently until I took my coat and boots off then I gave her, her treat she had every morning, I filled her bowl up with clean water, and her food bowl with her favourite dry food.
Every morning she has to have a few cornflakes added, and if I forgot to put them in her bowl, just a handful, she would stand and stare at me until I remembered.
After breakfast she would go and climb up onto her couch and doze for a while.
This Saturday Sheila my Partner and I decided to pop into the next village, Fochabers to the garden centre there to get a couple of roses and some herbs I wanted to pot up.
We found some nice ones and came home, Tara was there to welcome us, as always with a toy in her mouth, very pleased to see us.
After lunch I decided to put the plants in, Sheila sat outside with me,Tara took her usual position up watching me from the path as if supervising me.
Today was a little different, Tara kept going to Sheila putting her head on her lap wanting to be fussed, after a while she settled down and watched me as I worked.
After I had finished and watered we went inside, Tara up on her couch I on my laptop. I looked over at her and suggested a walk, she looked up as if to say no I am ok and went off into her doze again.
I took her out later that night for her comfort walk, we go over to the local park and she does her business there, she walked over to the doggy bin with me, and we walked slowly home. She never walked on a lead these days, in fact if I put one on her she refuses to move unless its to cross a busy road.
She stopped, looked at me with her doe like eyes, and just stood there, refusing to move , I put her lead on and she walked slowly beside me.
At bedtime Tara would come into the bedroom, as I sat on the bed she would always put her head on my lap, have a stroke then turn round and lay down beside my bed, after half hour she would get up, open the door and go and sleep on her couch, sometimes getting off and laying on the floor.
Sunday morning I was up early, went into the kitchen to put the kettle on for my first cup of coffee, as I went into the bathroom, I noticed her on the floor, I said morning Tara, time to get up onto your bed missus, my nickname for Tara was missus. well she was the boss wasn’t she.
I washed and shaved, made my coffee and was taking it through to the lounge. Tara was still on the floor sound a sleep, I put my coffee on a table bent down to stroke her, she was cold, I noticed her tongue was out as if she had been panting, I knew then that she had left me, I knew my dear friend and walking companion had gone.
She had died at home and in her sleep for that I shall be forever thank full
Good bye dear friend I shall miss you.