After many, many months of internal deliberation, emotional stress and outright procrastination, I am finally ready. Starting on November 4, 2023 I am at last beginning to write, produce, organize the material that will go into this, Max’s website. There were moments during which I toyed with “Why?”, “To what end?”, “Who cares?”, “Should I?”, “Why open up?”. But no matter the number of days that have passed, the thoughts thought, and uncertainties entertained, I always kept coming back to thinking this needs to be done. Max passed (died) on Monday, June 13, 2022; part of me went with him. I finally had the motivation (courage?) to start today, November 4, 2023. Let’s see how long it takes to get it ready for anyone else to see.
Why is this even being put together? After all, there are countless dogs (and cats, and horses and birds and snakes and rats and bunnies and……!) that are “special” and unforgettable and deeply loved. Max is not better, nor more special than any other loved pet……for you; however, for me, he left an indelible mark, an internal tattoo, an emotional depth (scar?) and a spiritual connection that I shall cherish forever. Even putting that aside —- because that means nothing (if we’re being real) to you —- there is benefit, if only to put out into the Universe, in yet another dog-love story; a story that has many layers, and that may, just may, resonate in parts, inform/educate in other parts, and at the very least will be a small attempt to honor the memory of a very kind hearted, stubby-tailed, beyond-belief patient, handsome, stubborn, and much-loved Rottweiler that I call/called Max.
Note**** Max was not “Max” to begin with when I met him. He was “Moses”. A great name, a mighty and biblical name, a name that evokes other images besides the big-headed, black Rottie in front of me and you. With no offense to the name “Moses, I knew immediately that he/we would not continue with that name. This is not to say that I had “Max” already in mind for a dog that I may one day have, I just knew “Moses” wasn’t. It took a few days after I got him that “Max”was settled on…..and can’t truly remember how it was decided.