Arthur was the sweetest, gentlest, most loving and loyal pet anyone could ever want: our 10-year-old dachshund. He died yesterday (October 1, 2000) about 1:00 p.m. after a months-long chronic kidney illnes and suffering terribly his last two nights. We petted him, hand-fed him, tried to soothe him in his last hours until he breathed his last.

But I don't want to think about his painful last two days. I just remember all the truly great moments with him: Arthur sitting up on his butt, his front legs up in the air asking people to dance with him. Riding in our restored 1953 antique fire engine in parades, enjoying watching the crowds as we drove by them. Acting proud, as if everyone lining the parade route was there just to see him!

Leaning against the bed at 2 a.m., asking to be petted and loved, and giving back so much more love than we could ever hope to repay. Our very first day with him, when he eagerly showed us he already knew how to roll over and how to shake hands. Sitting by the table, looking up at the family with such love and trust, while hoping to be snuck some table scraps. Curling-up on my lap while I tried to type at my computer.

Barking and chasing chickens that he had NO hope of ever catching. Barking to get our attention so we would watch him spin at 90 miles an hour chasing his own tail, Arthur loving how his silliness made us laugh.

Walking him as passerbys commented "look at the cute weiner dog". His perpetual faint smell of nachos and cheese. And a million more precious memories we shall forever cherish.

We bought him a doggy sweater to keep him warm when we walked him on cold days, and a doggy raincoat for rainy days--the look on his face showed us how much he appreciated the comfort that these simple garments gave his old bones.

Whenever he saw his dog collar, he would jump high for us to put it on him: "Oh boy, I'm going for a car ride and a walk in the park!" He got SO eager about it, he knew the collar meant an outing JUST for him.

On car rides, when we would stop at red lights, he would whimper to get out. After all, we were stopped, so he couldn't figure out why were all still in the car. He didn't get the concept of traffic lights. It was annoying at times, but mostly was just cute and one of the many, many things that made us love him all the more.

Maybe it sounds silly, but in honor of the nacho smell of our late weiner-dog, we went out and ate weiners and a plate of nachos and cheese last night.

The family is all so very sad today. He is already SO missed! How strange not to see him curled up in a ball beside our bed in the morning, or rushing to dance with us the moment we get home from work. The only consolation is that Arthur is no longer suffering and in pain. And we got to tell him how much his love and loyalty meant to us, and to say goodbye, before he took that last breath--you don't often get that chance to say goodbye to those you love.