Cinnamon & Mel - Best of Friends!'s STORY
Six weeks prior to my 10th Birthday, my best friend had a dog that just had a litter of puppies. I went over to see them and knew I had to have one of the puppies. They were golden retrievers, and I just knew I had to find a way to bring one home. So, for the next six weeks, I left hand-written notes all over the house. Each note was written in different colors, yet all had the same message: I was begging for a dog. I made promises after promises that I would take care of the puppy; I would clean the house, do the laundry – anything just to bring home one of those puppies.
Finally on my 10th Birthday, my parents agreed. I assured them that I would bring home the runt of the litter and that our dog would never grow very big. (Later, we realized that Cinnamon was no runt at all.) This was one of the best days of my life! I brought home “Cinnamon” and we immediately became best friends. I knew we shared a special bond when he peed on me when I first picked him up. I knew he was the one!
Over the next several years, Cinnamon and I did everything together. I was a runner, and he would run with me everywhere. I would take him swimming in our swimming pool and even sneak him in my room at night after my parents went to sleep so he could be next to me. Our life was perfect together!
I made plans in that first year with Cinnamon that when I turned 25 years old, I would attend Pepperdine University and Cinnamon and I would live out of a VW van. It was the perfect dream for our future.
As I grew up, reality set in and those plans of going to college and living in a van soon were gone. Instead in my early twenties, I got married to my high school sweetheart. I had planned to have Cinnamon walk me down the aisle, but my parents wouldn’t have it. As a matter of fact, I had to put Cinnamon in a kennel for the weekend, as we had over 300 people at the wedding. I was heart-broken that Cinnamon couldn’t be there. My husband and I moved into a tiny, 300 square foot apartment. With three cats in tow, we realized that Cinnamon could not move there with us, so he continued living at my parent’s house. I was so homesick for him that one night my husband drove me to my parent’s house at 10:30 at night just so I could spend time with Cinnamon. I would go see him every day and spend as much time with him as I could.
When my daughter was three-months old and Cinnamon was 15 my mom called me to tell me that the vet was on his way to our house. Cinnamon had been real sick and could no longer walk. I rushed over moments before the vet got there. Cinnamon stood up and took his last steps toward me to say goodbye. I was so upset I couldn’t be there when he was put down. Instead my dad and husband were both with Cinnamon as he took his final breath.
I was 25 when he died. The very age I had originally planned on embarking on our VW van odyssey with Cinnamon. Cinnamon was buried in my parent’s back yard in the same place I got married.
Today, I have a bronze statue (that looks just like Cinnamon) called “Old Friend” along with the book, “More than a Dog” my sister gave me set up on a shelf in my living room. It’s a beautiful way to remember Cinnamon and share stories about him with my Children.
Finally on my 10th Birthday, my parents agreed. I assured them that I would bring home the runt of the litter and that our dog would never grow very big. (Later, we realized that Cinnamon was no runt at all.) This was one of the best days of my life! I brought home “Cinnamon” and we immediately became best friends. I knew we shared a special bond when he peed on me when I first picked him up. I knew he was the one!
Over the next several years, Cinnamon and I did everything together. I was a runner, and he would run with me everywhere. I would take him swimming in our swimming pool and even sneak him in my room at night after my parents went to sleep so he could be next to me. Our life was perfect together!
I made plans in that first year with Cinnamon that when I turned 25 years old, I would attend Pepperdine University and Cinnamon and I would live out of a VW van. It was the perfect dream for our future.
As I grew up, reality set in and those plans of going to college and living in a van soon were gone. Instead in my early twenties, I got married to my high school sweetheart. I had planned to have Cinnamon walk me down the aisle, but my parents wouldn’t have it. As a matter of fact, I had to put Cinnamon in a kennel for the weekend, as we had over 300 people at the wedding. I was heart-broken that Cinnamon couldn’t be there. My husband and I moved into a tiny, 300 square foot apartment. With three cats in tow, we realized that Cinnamon could not move there with us, so he continued living at my parent’s house. I was so homesick for him that one night my husband drove me to my parent’s house at 10:30 at night just so I could spend time with Cinnamon. I would go see him every day and spend as much time with him as I could.
When my daughter was three-months old and Cinnamon was 15 my mom called me to tell me that the vet was on his way to our house. Cinnamon had been real sick and could no longer walk. I rushed over moments before the vet got there. Cinnamon stood up and took his last steps toward me to say goodbye. I was so upset I couldn’t be there when he was put down. Instead my dad and husband were both with Cinnamon as he took his final breath.
I was 25 when he died. The very age I had originally planned on embarking on our VW van odyssey with Cinnamon. Cinnamon was buried in my parent’s back yard in the same place I got married.
Today, I have a bronze statue (that looks just like Cinnamon) called “Old Friend” along with the book, “More than a Dog” my sister gave me set up on a shelf in my living room. It’s a beautiful way to remember Cinnamon and share stories about him with my Children.