August 12, 2001

You were a shaman weren’t you? I demand that you help me protect these trees! Being the shaman gifts you with that ability—to come and go as you please. The Cardinals, they’re waiting for you Larry... swim through our tears and feel for yourself—view what is called true love. I can’t say goodbye! Nor will I! To let you go will make me scream and I will as loudly as I can—not out of anger but departure. Come on kid, you knew about the vows… don’t wait so long to find us in your next life. Please leap out and tell us it’s you! I will give you back to mother earth and soon your ashes will forever be placed inside a keepsake. Just let me know, you know the bark… for the journey must now begin. I’m gonna cry Larry… please don’t laugh at me. For God has taken away my baby step, my song, and the words it’s going to take to share with you a brand new guarantee. It bothers me to know man can start and stop a war, but man cannot keep death from taking its natural course.

Larry’s fur sits inside my daily journal along with a paw print taken before the two of us walked like true travelers back into the forest he founded all those chapters ago. This is the first time I’ve touched either, since kissing him so long three years ago. Just think just like that… there was nobody here to wipe my tears… so I placed them on the page.