On Friday Nov. 22nd, 2013 I woke up for a 6am surf. The waves were not as big as they were the day previous so it wasn’t near as exciting. However I did see a kid out in the big waves. I asked my instructor why he wasn’t in school. He told me that private schools started at 8 and public at 9am. This young kid got himself up to surf before school started to surf…crazy. I came back showered and facetimed mom/Duke. Duke was up moving which was good. He was still was out of it, but more alert than I have seen him. Mom still had to take him in daily, but we were making progress.
After the facetime, I went to the soda (cheap restaurant) down the street and purchased cafe y leche (coffee with milk)…paid in colones (which I only drank a few sips, it was too hot for coffee but I wanted the experience of purchasing it). I then walked to the fruit stand and purchased a banana and a mango…pain in colones. I dropped the food off in my room and went for a walk down the street to see some of the shops. They had some cute things, the weather was great and I enjoyed the walk. I walked home in time for a short nap before heading to Spanish Lab.
For our spanish lab all levels were meeting and taking a taxi to a soda down the highway. We ordered in spanish and paid in colones. We sat in a group and ate. There was no walls, just a covered area with a great breeze. The meal was a typical Costa Rican dish of a sides (mostly a combo of rice and beans but I had squash), plantains and meat. There was a salad bar as well as mango or coconut juice as well as water (I avoided the water because I was sticking to bottle water during this trip). Everything was good. My teacher told us that this was open 24/7. No lie, Taco Cabana came into my mind. All of my surf buddies are in much higher level spanish so it was fun to see them outside of the beach. One of the girls asked about Duke’s progress at lunch (since I had started working on my blog in the kitchen in the afternoon, those that regularly cooked in the evenings got the run down in small talk) so l quickly pulled out my phone and showed pictures explaining to others what had happened, but we were making progress. After lunch we headed back to the school. I went into Spanish class for 2hrs.
After Spanish I made something quick to eat, rested for a few mins before heading to the gym around 4ish. This was a different crowd at the gym because it was in the afternoon/PM. It was Friday so I was doing the TAG WOD programed by Chelsea MCKINNY (she was still Ross at the time). I was sweating (VERY humid) so much I prob went through ½ a roll of tape trying to keep a grip on the bar. One of the trainers/workers complimented me on my pull ups and informed me he wish he had my energy. I was mentally preparing for my T2B series and decided to check my phone. I had a missed Facetime Call from my Dad. I walked out of the gym onto their balcony and called him back. Daddy told me to go to a place that was quiet and my heart went to my toes, I knew whatever he was going to say wasn’t going to be good. I walked out of the gym (on 2nd floor) and sat leaning against a pillar. I wasn’t able to go far because I had to stay on the gym’s wifi. Daddy asked me where I was and I informed him. He told me to sit down because he had to tell me something. I was a mess before the words even came out of his mouth. I knew he was about to deliver the worst news possible and it was. At 3pm that day, some of the built up toxins that had collected during Duke’s surgery on Monday attacked him. My parents were both phone at home and raced down to the clinic arriving within less than 10mins. The Vets and my parents did EVERYTHING they could, but on Nov. 22nd Duke passed away at a young age of 4.5yrs old; cause of death bloat. I remained seated under that pillar with my parents on facetime for some time. Even my new gym friend came out to check on me. I ran from the gym back to the school and as promised, facetimed my parents. I told them i wanted to come home. Even with a week left of vacation ahead I wanted to come home. Dad found and booked me a flight home for 1:30pm the next day. I spent the rest of the night packing my bags and cancelling the plans I had made for the weekend and week ahead. I just knew I was going to wake up from this horrible dream. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Later that evening Robert Besser, my family’s pastor came by my parents house. They face timed me so I could be part of a family prayer.
Saturday morning I called a taxi and left the school at 6:30am. I arrived at the airport, paid my exit tax. Waited an hour before the United gate opened. Checked my bag and went to my gate. I was 4hours early, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to come home. I found an outlet and took a 2hour nap while my ipad charged. The 4hr flight landed me in Houston at 5:30pm. By the time I got through customs and were on the road home, it was pasted 6:30pm. My wonderful parents picked me up at the airport so I wouldn’t have to ride the bus to Beaumont. As soon as I got into Beaumont, I crawled into bed and remained there for the next 3 days. Bless my parents, they did everything they could during this rough time to comfort me. I spent a lot of time sleeping and they just let me. I wasn’t my normal self and they just let me be.
If you knew anything about my Duke, you knew he was more human than dog. He was my child, my companion, my training buddy, my partner in crime he was my everything. He made everything okay. He was so gentle with even the smallest of children to the frailest elderly patient. He could bring a smile to any stranger’s face before they even reached to pet him. If you found the right spot when petting him, he would lean into you never forgetting you. He loved to go any where! Even if he wasn’t getting out of the car, he wanted to go…head out the window no matter how cold it was. When he wanted the window down he would put his head on my shoulder until I rolled the window down. Somes my back windows wouldn’t even roll down because of all the slobber that built up on the window. His big floppy ears would just blow in the wind. He loved the energy (and attention) that the gyms and the athletes brought. There was always someone there to love on him, pat his head, scratch his back, throw the ball (he would fetch it but not give it back to you). Duke was different and we had a relationship that was unlike any other.
4 ½ years was not long enough for me to have him in my life which is what I struggle with the most. I had so many more adventures for us to take on. Lots more for us to get into, celebrate and discover. Thanksgiving was hard and I’m sure Christmas will be just as hard. I cry less each day, but that doesn’t mean each day is easier. I miss him more than anything and constantly think about him.
Duke left pawprints on almost everyone whom he came in contact with. I know this because of all the sweet text messages, voicemails, Likes, donations, concerns, prayers everyone has offered me (and my family). I am speechless by these actions. I know when I return to ATX I will continue to have the support of my friends and family to help ease the pain. For this I am grateful. I have spent the last week mourning his death and moving forward I will start celebrating his life.
