Parker

Hey kid,
tonight I want to tell you about Parker. He's the family dog, and I doubt he will be around long enough for you to be able to remember him. He's about 12 years old right now and showing his age. He's been having trouble getting around as well as he used to partly because of arthritis and partly because of getting a little weaker with age. We've had him since he was about 8, so he's been our companion for about 4 years now.
He's the best dog. Since we've had him, he's barked maybe 3 or 4 times. He's just so mellow and well tempered, you can't help but love him. In his younger days he was a champion (in our eyes) ball fetcher. He was tireless as a player. We could kick the Kong and throw balls to him endlessly. He loved to swim. But, he would walk next to you loyally when you wanted to just walk with him. He's very social, too. At least with people. He doesn't really like to play with other dogs, but hates to be left alone. He loves to be included in any family activity. He's been spending the days at work with your mother pretty much since we've had him. He lays under her desk and is always there to keep her company. He's been everywhere with her. He's been her 24/7 companion since she brought him home in the fall of 2002.
Now, we help him get up and down the stairs, and help him get up sometimes. He also has been unable to control his bowels for a while, so we have to be ready to clean up his poop in the house. But, we don't mind because we love him, and he loves us back. We also think about how it is sort of helping us be ready to deal with changing your diapers soon. While he is slowing phisically, his mental accuity hasn't dropped. He still knows when someone opens a banana or an orange that he might get a bite of.
In the first picture here, he is looking stately in his bow tie at our wedding. The day before the wedding we had dinner at my parents house in Hood River. The kids there were throwing him the ball a lot and he really got worn out. So the day of the wedding he was content to be pretty mellow and just sit in the middle of the procedings without wanting to play. The other picture just shows his pretty face.
As I said, I don't know if you will ever really get to know Parker, but we might have another family dog while you are growing up. And if we do, we will always compare him or her to our beloved Parker.

sleep tight,
love aba