Tonight… sheltered from rain showers by the golden glowing branches of our McNair chestnut tree…surrounded by family…with a rainbow shining overhead… we said goodbye to our sweet Cafu – my chocolate lab of the last 15 years.
Sitting on the damp ground, I held him in my arms giving thanks for our lives together as he slowly slipped away… finally receiving relief from the pain that has plagued his body for the last year.
Cafu was born in 2002, with a stubbed tail that he was always just a bit shy about. His name was given to him by his first owners… a young couple whose Olympia house I rented when they moved to Seattle and couldn’t take their 1-year old lab with him. I got two-in-one… the house and him. He was named after a Brazilian soccer player (as I understand it).
Cafu and I have been on many adventures together… hiking… camping…snowshoeing… moves through 4 houses… 2 marriages… 1 divorce… 2 children (one birthed)… 3 careers…
He was a true lab and would jump in any body of water he found (including while snowshoeing!) and when he was younger was obsessed with chasing tennis balls, snow balls, rocks in the river, sticks, imaginary balls… you name it.
Cafu was extremely loving and protective. He had a bark that could ruffle the most stoic UPS driver – but he never hurt a fly… literally. I once saw him catch a moth in his mouth and then open his mouth and watch the moth fly away. He loved playing with smaller dogs and puppies and would let them pretend to be big and strong while he rolled on his back and flopped around.
He has run to my side and comforted me when I’ve cried and happily wagged his tail as we’ve celebrated.
He was the last remaining of four animals I acquired in my early 20’s. His passing marks the end of a chapter.
I’m deeply grateful to Compassionate Care for making the trip all the way from Portland so that Cafu could spend his last moments outside in the grass on the property he’s called home for the last 7 years… under the tree he chose as he took his last limpy walk around the property.
I told David tonight that if I could write the end to my own story, it would look just like this.
Sending love and light on your trip over the Rainbow Bridge Cafu… you’ll live on forever in my heart.
