Oh my goodness. What a beautiful post, and a fitting tribute for your best boy. The section at the end about your Dad finished me off. Dewey was lucky to have you, as you were him. ❤️
Clare, Grace’s ending with her dad changed the scale of the piece for me too. His habit of calling each dog by name as he mows past them turns that part of the farm into more than a burial place; it becomes a living family practice of remembrance, and now Dewey has been gathered into it. Your sense that Grace and Dewey were fortunate to have found each other feels especially true after everything she lets us see about the life they built together. Thank you for drawing attention to the ending that quietly carries him forward.
Grace, the ordinary details make the size of Dewey’s absence understandable without ever reducing him to the fact that he died. The cracker-smelling ears, the spectacularly unreliable fetching, the 6 a.m. bed ritual, the bathroom companionship, the place beside the piano: each one records a relationship that had become woven into the architecture of daily life. I was also struck by your honesty about how little room grief left you to receive him at first, knowing what he eventually became to you. By the time your dad adds “Good boy, Dewey” to the names he calls across the farm, we have spent enough time with him for that final naming to feel fully his. Thank you for trusting readers with Dewey as he actually lived in your family, in all the funny, ordinary, beloved particulars.
"After that first summer, Dewey would become one of the greatest loves of my life."
This was me and my pug Parker. We got him while I was going through chemo and radiation. The grief I went through after all of that was different than the loss of a loved one, but it was friend nonetheless.
And Parker? He was there when it started and he was there when it ended. And when it ended, I was able to move all of the love that was coming back into him. God, I love him.
Charlie, glad you had Parker throughout, and it does create a forever bond. Some of our animal connections are just different, and I knew Dewey was my once-in-a-lifetime while we had him.
Like you said, It feels to me like Dewey was an old soul who got the warm hand off from Wayne and was totally ready for his mission of opening everyone's heart anew. What a beautiful story of love and acceptance. Your dad greeting everyone gave me full body chills. Thank you so much for sharing this 🙏
Peter, this made be tear (again). You see it too, and we have said that countless times over the last few days. We didn't fully appreciate this until Dewey's passing.
Oh Grace, I am so, so sorry. My heart is breaking into a million little pieces for you and Kevin. As someone who has been able to choose the day for a few different older animals in my pawrent career, I can atest to the fact that there is absolutely no easy way to say goodbye but the loss of Dewey sounds really traumatic. Just want to honour that there is an extra layer of grief there to contend with. Sending you and your tender hearts so much love as you remember and mourn the loss of your dear Dewey x
Danielle, thank you so much for the kind words. As a fellow animal lover, I know you understand. Thank you for acknowledging the difficulty and for reading. ❤️❤️❤️
Oh my goodness. What a beautiful post, and a fitting tribute for your best boy. The section at the end about your Dad finished me off. Dewey was lucky to have you, as you were him. ❤️
Thank you so much, Clare. My Dad really sent us all off too. Appreciate you.
Clare, Grace’s ending with her dad changed the scale of the piece for me too. His habit of calling each dog by name as he mows past them turns that part of the farm into more than a burial place; it becomes a living family practice of remembrance, and now Dewey has been gathered into it. Your sense that Grace and Dewey were fortunate to have found each other feels especially true after everything she lets us see about the life they built together. Thank you for drawing attention to the ending that quietly carries him forward.
Oh Gracie, I am so sorry 😢 Dewey was a hilarious little boy. We are dog people. It comes at a price.
Aw, he was. I know you get it deeply with your precious motley crew as well. xo
Here’s to all the good boys and girls. We are so lucky.
Forever and ever. Yes, it is luck and love that is underneath the pain we will eventually shed.
Grace, the ordinary details make the size of Dewey’s absence understandable without ever reducing him to the fact that he died. The cracker-smelling ears, the spectacularly unreliable fetching, the 6 a.m. bed ritual, the bathroom companionship, the place beside the piano: each one records a relationship that had become woven into the architecture of daily life. I was also struck by your honesty about how little room grief left you to receive him at first, knowing what he eventually became to you. By the time your dad adds “Good boy, Dewey” to the names he calls across the farm, we have spent enough time with him for that final naming to feel fully his. Thank you for trusting readers with Dewey as he actually lived in your family, in all the funny, ordinary, beloved particulars.
Well, now I am tearing up all over again. Beautiful words. Thank you for making me feel so seen. Appreciate you. ❤️
"After that first summer, Dewey would become one of the greatest loves of my life."
This was me and my pug Parker. We got him while I was going through chemo and radiation. The grief I went through after all of that was different than the loss of a loved one, but it was friend nonetheless.
And Parker? He was there when it started and he was there when it ended. And when it ended, I was able to move all of the love that was coming back into him. God, I love him.
Tito too, obviously, but Parker was my lifeline.
Charlie, glad you had Parker throughout, and it does create a forever bond. Some of our animal connections are just different, and I knew Dewey was my once-in-a-lifetime while we had him.
I’m glad you had that. And I think you’ll have it again. I’m pretty sure dogs are some form of magic.
Like you said, It feels to me like Dewey was an old soul who got the warm hand off from Wayne and was totally ready for his mission of opening everyone's heart anew. What a beautiful story of love and acceptance. Your dad greeting everyone gave me full body chills. Thank you so much for sharing this 🙏
Peter, this made be tear (again). You see it too, and we have said that countless times over the last few days. We didn't fully appreciate this until Dewey's passing.
This is Beautiful Grace. Thank you for so carefully writing this piece.
Thank you, Mom! You were the best fat camp director and grandma.
Sweet boy Dewey, the girls and us are going to miss you dearly 🤍
Aw, he loved you guys! Thank you. xo
I’m so sorry to hear of Dewey’s passing. I’ll always remember him as the dog that didn’t bite Wulfric 😢 Rest easy good boy
Thank you, Marina. The best boy!
This brought up the passing of our prince, Beo, and now I'm going to cry.
Such very good boys.
We're lucky to have been in the company of such good boys ❤️
oh my heart!!! 🤍 what a beautiful read, through wet eyes, of course. thank you for sharing that, Grace.
Thank you, Debi! It was a good release, and now I need an under-eye mask.
i could feel it! 🤍
Oh Grace, I am so, so sorry. My heart is breaking into a million little pieces for you and Kevin. As someone who has been able to choose the day for a few different older animals in my pawrent career, I can atest to the fact that there is absolutely no easy way to say goodbye but the loss of Dewey sounds really traumatic. Just want to honour that there is an extra layer of grief there to contend with. Sending you and your tender hearts so much love as you remember and mourn the loss of your dear Dewey x
Danielle, thank you so much for the kind words. As a fellow animal lover, I know you understand. Thank you for acknowledging the difficulty and for reading. ❤️❤️❤️
My heart 💔 our precious Dew Dew! A boy like no other we will miss so much! Love you guys ❤️
Truly an angel. Thank you, love you. ❤️
What a sweet tribute Grace!
Thank you ❤️
🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶
😭 this was so beautiful Grace. I'm so sorry you lost Dewey 😔