My companion of almost 13 years, Che, died October 26, 2025 in his sleep.
Up until the end he was swimming in the stream, running with me in the woods and jumping for food. Ulum, Micah, Dania and friends helped bury him under a mountain ash in the orchard.
I wrote him a song:
[photo credit: Erick Boustead]
Lyrics:
The Legend of Che
There once was a big black dog named Che,
Who’d bark at the hawks and splash each day,
Seven dips sometimes, half a mile he’d swim,
Just to see if canoes would let him in.
Oh Che, you rascal, you rogue,
You ate a sock and survived the episode,
You’d puke in the hallway, bump doors for fun,
Still my good boy when the day was done.
Dinner time came, I’d ask, “Wanna go out?”
You’d sulk by the door with a Labrador pout,
Pretend not to hear me, “Who, me? What’d you say?”
Then leap like a rocket when food came your way.
Oh Che, you wanderer bold and free,
You swam the lake and ran home to me,
Old soul shining in a puppy disguise,
Still full of joy and a spark in your eyes.
One day in the field my chainsaw slipped down,
You barked halfway to bring help around,
You found the people, you found me too,
And wouldn’t leave the ambulance crew.
They kicked you out one door,
You came in the other
You loyal fool, my furry brother.
You knew my meetings down to the tone,
My voice would change, you’d leave your home,
From your bed you’d wake, soft and true,
Come to my desk for a pat or two.
When you turned ten, you roamed the roads each night,
In search of treasures that smelled just right,
You made your rounds, then trotted back,
Proud of your finds and your midnight snack.
Oh Che, you rascal, you rogue,
Trash-can gourmet, puke hallway load,
A swimmer, a hero, a keyhole sniffer,
A bedroom-door-bumper and kayak drifter.
Now the lakes are calm and the woods are still,
But I swear I hear your bark on the hill,
A splash in the pond, a tail in the fog
Forever my friend… my Che, good dog.