An ode and eulogy to my best furry friend and family member, Shreddies. Nine years together side by side, through the best and worst of times. Her presence was a real blessing in my life and I will never forget the way you loved me.

What do you write about a woman that has not only given you life but that has gone above and beyond her maternal responsibilities? What can you possibly say about a woman that has fought systemic injustices for those that did not have a voice? What do you say about a woman that has over-delivered on every promise she has ever made?

Hospitals always bring me back to my teenage years when my father became very ill until his eventual death at the young age of forty-two. Much of my teenage years consisted of lost opportunities that have grown into deep regrets weighing heavy on my heart and mind until this very day.

Over twenty years without a father, it’s a long time to go without a loved one, especially someone who usually holds a central role in your life. May 24th, 1992 was the day my father left this physical world, hopefully for an ethereal one.

In life we come across moments that move us in ways that are bound to redefine our whole being, sometimes these moments are so profound that we know right away that from this point on we will never see things the same way. My sister’s arrival was one of those moments for me.

Time is a funny beast not easily tamed. Who am I kidding, it’s impossible to tame despite my sci-fi inclinations. What I find most interesting about time is how depending on the situation it’s influence and impact work for or against us.

My sister found her first true love early on in life, it was not to be a young prince charming, nor a shy gentle boy but rather a box of sand. The sandbox at the park near our home in Orleans was her first real obsession that pushed our bond to the very limits.

I was once a baby, full of promise, an unwritten future with endless possibilities. I got the same speech most kids get, “You can grow up to be whomever you want to be.” however missing from that speech was some crucial information.