Ode to the Fox

I had started to write a story about our dog Roxie, who died almost two years ago. It got me thinking about our former dog, Foxy. The main reason we adopted Roxie out of all the other doggy orphans, is because she reminded us so much of Foxy, who had to be put down in 1996. It hit me hard when Foxy died. So much so that I wrote this Ode to the Fox so I could remember her, my special, silly girl. Below is the piece I wrote for Foxy more than twenty years ago.

Hey, Sport Fan! Hey, Fox!
 Foxy! Fox!
 You were a great friend, Fox,
 And I’ll miss you forever.
  
 You loved your routines, didn’t ya, Fox?
 You sure had enough of them.
 But the routine I loved the most,
 And the one I’ll always treasure
 Is how you’d follow me from room to room
 Even wait outside my shower.
 Yes, Foxy. It’s me behind the curtain.
 But you had to make sure.
 How ya doin’, Fox?
 You were a good girl, Monox.
 The very best.
 My shadow.
  
 Foxy, Foxy, Foxy, Foxy, Fox!
 Your eager stance outside the back door
 Begging to come in.
 Come on, you guys! I wanna be inside with you!
 Trying to catch my eye through the French door.
 You go pee pee, Fox. You go.
  
 Foxy, how can I do sit-ups if you’re lying on me?
 Call her, Pat.
  
 You lay at my feet, ears perk at every sound.
 Our Fox has selective hearing –
 You pretend you can’t hear us call when we’re standing right next to you
 But you can hear the bag of Tostidos opening in another room.
 And what a sense of smell!
 You love your popcorn, don’t ya, Fox?
  
 Foxity Moxity.
 Stay Foxy. You stay.
 Poking your head between my crossed legs,
 ‘C’mon, just rub me, your eyes would beg.
  
 Your unconditional love and mine for you.
 What will I do without your love, Fox?
 Who will watch and wait while I run?
 (Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!)
  
 It’s eleven o’clock – are you coming to bed or what?
 You ask by stopping in the hallway and looking at us.
 Just a minute, Fox…You can go.
 Is the light on for her, Pat?
 Another lap.
 Watch her, Pat. She’s doing her laps.
 You’re funny, Fox.
  
 Sit Foxy. Shake hands. Other hand. Good girl!
 That was the extent of your tricks.
  
 Hey, Hairball! Are you okay?
 We have your night light – we’ll keep it on, okay?
 Sorry about the Blistex, Mox.
  
 I sure remember those night moves…
 Foxy, no dog has to go out three times a night!
 Quit messing with me.
 How can you not hear her, P? It was your turn last night.
 Foxy! You didn’t even go!
 Now I wake up in the middle of the night
 But you’re not there.
  
 Foxy! You just went out! You didn’t even leave the deck.
 I saw you just eating the snow, you can’t fool me.
 You just wanted a rub down, didn’t you, Fox?
  
 You’re such a nerd dog.
 Foxy, no more. Eat your dinner.
 Hey, Fox! Wanna go on a W-A?
  
 Sorry about the smoke alarm, Foxy,
 I forgot to put the exhaust fan on.
 Don’t be scared. Fox. It’s okay.
  
 You’re such an old lady, Foxy,
 Moaning every time you turn over.
  
 Here, Fox, I’ll leave the fan on for you.
 It’ll be our secret, Fox; don’t tell Pat.
  
 Remember how good you were at moonwalking?
 I guess we don’t need all these rugs anymore.
 You aren’t afraid of carpetless floors anymore, are you, Fox?
  
 Foxy, you shouldn’t have gone under the bed if you couldn’t get out.
 Relax, Foxy…I thought dogs knew how to swim.
  
 God knows how many stairs you fell down, Foxy Lady.
 (Remember Old Man’s Cave?)
 And you were even in a car accident,
 But you always triumphed.
 For years, even your failing kidneys couldn’t slow you down.
  
 That’s my girl! Good girl, Fox!
  
 “It doesn’t seem right,” the doctors said,
 “She’s so full of pep.”
  
 You finally saw the beach but
 I really wanted you to come down and see the finished basement.
 I promise we wouldn’t let you fall again.
 You’d be safe.
  
 I’m in here, Fox. Here I am!
  
 Hey, Monoxodil!
 Hey, Fox – Remember the Milky Way fiasco?
 Dogs aren’t supposed to eat chocolate, you know.
  
 You can’t go out with that bone, Fox; we’ll never see it again.
  
 How about that time I came home early?
 Through the front door,
 No guard dog in sight.
 You were sitting quite comfortably in the middle of the couch.
 Now we know what goes on when we’re away.
 Remember that, Fox?
  
 Your memory fills my heart.
 I love you, Fox.
 You’re my Fox, my pretty girl, pretty girl!
 I hope you’re happy.
 Are you still keeping watch over us?
 Bark! Foxy! Bark! We don’t know him!
  
 You’re our first born, Foxy girl.
 No other pets will compare to our Mox.
  
 Why won’t you eat, Foxy?
 Don’t you feel good?
 You’re resting comfortably now
 In heaven, in our hearts.
 Forever remembered. Forever loved.
 Bye, Fox. You be good.
 No poopy, no pee pee; you know the rules.
 You’re a good girl, Fox.
 It’s okay, Foxy. You’re okay.
 Thank you, Sport Fan. I love you.