My first best friend
Sparky Gritti
When I was young, and was staying with my Dad, he got me a puppy. A Shetland Sheepdog I named Sparky (so shoot me I was like everyone else who named their dog Sparky). In typical young man fashion, I was far from as responsible as I should’ve been with my new responsibility. My father, being the gentle soul that he is, would quite often compensate for my laziness. As much as Sparky might’ve been my dog he was really our dog. It’s true he slept in my room and on my bed with me every night without fail unless I wasn’t there, then he would join my dad. Some nights he would be torn and simply sleep on the floor between the doorways to our rooms.
He wasn’t particularly well behaved. But he wasn’t obnoxious either. Sure he would bark at the mailman or people walking by, and sure he bark at the lawnmower or passing cars. Really he’d bark at all kinds of stuff for no reason at all. Even though he was kind of a spaz and definitely lived up to his name. Spending most of his time with an ADHD child probably didn’t slow down his RPMs either.
Simply put Sparky’s energy level matched mine. As I write this I find myself getting choked up. I cannot remember a relationship since, animal or human, that was so genuine, honest, and selfless. He didn’t care what we did, he loved us anyway. I could never embarrass him in public. Never disappoint him by not succeeding. Never look weak or cowardly to him for running away. No matter what I did he was there with me.
Dogs are Ride or Die!
Dogs definitely know how to do reciprocity right. Whatever you give to a dog it will give you back emotionally. Dogs don't care about masks, or melanin, or even morality. They care about loyalty and vibes. They genuinely love you for you, as you, without any need for apology. I agree with Ricky Gervais that dogs are better than humans.
I very much look forward reaching a level of security, safety, space, and comfort that will allow me to responsibly find a K9 companion. The idea of building a normal healthy relationship that is simple, built from the ground up, and blissfully free of human made drama sounds amazing to me.
Sparky was like that for me and I’m so so grateful to him for all he brought to my life. I’m also grateful to my father for trusting me and handing a big responsibility, and then helping with it it the whole way. Like I said he still remembers Sparky as my dog, but I remember.
I remember when he passed away. I woke up to my father crying on the floor between our rooms. Sparky had laid down between rooms falling asleep and passed away. In the end he didn’t choose favorites. He always had more than enough love for everyone. Dogs are amazing beings.
I love and miss you Sparky.
