My Best Friend
For over 10 years he has been by my side always happy to see me. He is nearing the end of his life being ravaged by squamous cell carcinoma cancer. It onset very quickly yet he always still seems to be smiling. The vets told me there was nothing they can do.
When I got laid off from Dell so many years ago I decided to get a companion and went on the search for a perfect calendar looking Labrador Retriever. I read the ad for “block headed” puppies and set off on a trip to Rockdale or Rockwall Texas somewhere near Austin. Now, when the mother stood on her back legs and about looked me in the face I knew he would be what I was looking for. Then this little fella came waddling toward me giving me the first moment of so many to come of just pure love. He would be “Wayne’s General Maximus”
Now this adorable little fella would grow and grow and GROW. I bought the book “Water Dog” and during my time after Dell and Before Time Warner this little guy and I spent a lot of time down at the creek near my apartment. He took to the water a little hesitant at first but after that moment you couldn’t keep him out. If he saw water he was in it like a fish walking and swimming just what he was bred to do. We learned, sit and come, stay and “MAX!” (which meant to go retrieve) and the myriad of others. The disagreement I had with the book I purchased was it was primarily about the dog being a champion retriever and a utility dog, but this dog was much more, he was my buddy. He went on the boat, and to ride the Guadalupe and he loved every minute of it and always got attention. Soon that little puppy was a huge footed 120 lb behemoth. When he was around you knew it. And his tail is so powerful anything on the coffee table was sure to go flying.
He had me trained he wanted to go outside he would let me know, and when he wanted to come in he would bark and let me know that too, and I would stop what I was doing to let him in.
He had his bout’s with rule breaking too. Something being on the counter was not a deterrent to Max. He could easily stand up and reach it and he would use his paws to pull anything off of it he desired. And a chewer in his younger years, hats, shoes, baseboards whatever he could get that mouth around. He went through a lot of chew toys.
Max is a gentle giant. He has often lived with smaller dogs or had them visit and, boy, did they love to rare up to “The Moose” or “Moosie” as he was most often called. Bites to the face or himself were most often met with a snarl and a pull back and a look of inquisition as to “Why? What is your problem ??” Harassed often enough his roar and bark and snap would dispatch the bravest of smaller friends to find nearby shelter, but he did not pursue the confrontation.
Did I mention he loved water ? Rivers, lakes, pools, puddles and hottubs, it made no difference to Max. Harold Schmaltz, my former father inlaw, told the story of working in his home office one day and he noticed waves in his pool. While keeping Max he had learn to open the patio door that led to the pool. The funny part of the story is that, he saw Max swimming in the pool, but not just swimming. Max would dive in for the floating chlorine thing in the pool and retrieve it. Well since no one was outside with him, he would sling it with his head back into the pool then dive in and repeat the process over and over. He was doing the whole thing on his own. He needed no one to play fetch with, he handled it they way he did everything with joy for him and everyone around him.
My buddy gave me years of happiness and was always there for me. It is my turn now to be there for him. Whether helping him up the stairs or picking him up so he can be by me on the bed, that he cant jump on anymore, I will happily serve him as he serves out his final days. I know him well enough to know when he is ready to go I will be there for him. I love you Max, and am so sorry fate has chosen to take you from me in this way, but you will have my eternal gratitude and love for truly being this man’s Best Friend.
Wayne Duhon 