Zeke

The time was just before Easter 1994 and I arrived home from work.  Jynx told me she had a surprise but didn’t want me to be angry.  I agreed and she led me to the basement where I saw a small black animal in the basement.  I couldn’t quite make out what it was; I thought maybe a rat, until I heard a bark and knew it was a puppy.  That was Zeke’s first day in our lives.  I still remember driving in the car and holding her in one hand.  Jynx and I were married later that year and the dog Jynx got as an Easter gift for me quickly became her dog.

Jynx and Zeke were inseparable; if Jynx left home without Zeke the dog would go into a deep depression. Zeke would go to work with Jynx to her landscape jobs and while smelling the new homes out, Zeke always was close enough and had an eye on where Jynx was.  Jynx rarely had to put her on a leash because she would stay where she was supposed to. When Jynx would drive, Zeke would stand in between the seats and Jynx would say “brake” and she would brace herself. Zeke was very smart and knew many tricks. Zeke even canoed and kayaked with us. We eventually got into geocaching, a sport that uses a GPS to find a spot in the woods, after we would find the spot; Zeke would lead us on the same path out of the woods.  It was always amazing how she would track us back out.

Zeke was with us through several changes in our lives from our co-op in Park Forest to our house in Dyer.  She was there for our cat Presley, and they were good friends and Goofy coming only to stay for a few nights then gone and back again until she became part of the family.  Zeke was with us as we lost Presley, they would play together. I still laugh at the thought of Presley holding on to Zeke as she ran up the stairs.  Zeke was there as tons of other animals came stayed for awhile then moved on because Jynx would agree to be a Doggy Hotel as friends and family went on vacation or for other reasons. Zeke was there when Little Man came home with us for the first time.

We tragically lost Zeke and life is definitely different now.  We brought Zeke home to bury her in our yard close to her friend Presley.  She was pretty and at peace when we saw her. As we dug the grave we did our best to hold it together for Little Man, Jynx was doing her best.  Little Man saw Zeke and then ran into the house to get a book to read to her.  Later Little Man ran into the house and brought out a picture with him and a train.  Jynx asked if that was for Zeke and he said yes.  He sat back there with her until I came to get her. As I placed her in the grave with her genius dog collar and one of her patriotic scarves Little Man then began to cry “Zeke go no!”  The tears started to flow.  I knew how much Zeke had touched our lives but I had no idea how much she had touched Little Mans life.  Jynx mentioned that she knew she would never have a dog like Zeke again.  Zeke really was her first baby.  We feel Zeke sensed that Jynx would very soon have a lot more to care for with our newest joy and that after almost 18 ½ years of a good life, she was becoming tired and ready for her new adventure in heaven. Goodbye old friend, one day we will meet again. Love you.