Remembering Rocket
Late last month Rick and I said goodbye to Rocket.
Over 12 ½ years, Rocket became part of our lives in countless ways, large and small. He was everywhere and in everything — including my newsletter, LinkedIn posts, Instagram videos, voice notes, and the occasional client jam session.
Because of those many appearances, I wanted to take a moment in this month’s newsletter to remember him. To do so, I’m sharing an excerpt of a post Rick wrote — because it’s perfect.
He was a leap of faith. A beautiful, wonderful leap of faith.
At various times in my relationship with Ben, we’ve had “leap of faith” moments. Moments when you aren’t 100% sure of a choice or decision, but you trust in “us” enough to take the leap of faith. Adding Rocket to our family in 2013 was definitely one of those moments.
We said goodbye to Rocket a couple of days after Christmas. It was very sudden and unexpected, yet Rocket definitely let us know it was time. The doctor agreed. Rocket was having fun, going on walks, and playing with his toys one day, and the next we found out he was very ill. He passed the day after, peacefully, in our arms, as we whispered to him to go find some of his dearest friends that had gone before him.
I loved Rocket so much. We loved Rocket so much. He had a lot of energy and was such a joy to be around. I miss ALL the things: the tail wags when we’d get home; the “it’s time to go to sleep” sigh he’d give me, which I would return in kind; the “happy growls” we’d pass back and forth when he was in a very good mood.
I miss watching Ben throw one of Rocket’s toys down the hall for fetch and Rocket galloping to bring it back — he was so happy doing that. I miss telling him, “your dad’s home,” when Ben would walk in and then watch Rocket go greet him.
I really miss the mornings. Rocket would jump up in bed with us and walk over me, or Ben, and then give us a little paw to the back, letting us know he would like us to roll him over so he was on his back in between us. That was my favorite way to start the day.
We were so very lucky to have him in our lives.
Let me end with a quick story.
Ben and I were having a really hard time with the emptiness of our home. The quiet was overwhelming — missing him in all the places. Ben suggested, “let’s go to Hawaii.” Hawaii has always been good for our souls. So we went for a short trip. More of a “running to” than a “running away,” but probably a little of both.
Our first day there, I got into the ocean, almost chest deep. About 30–35 feet away, I heard a man say to his family, “Look, a turtle!” I was way too far away to see the turtle, but I was hoping I’d get to see one on the trip.
Two minutes later, I could see a shape swimming towards me — it was the sea turtle. He was really big too, probably over three feet long. He just kept swimming to me until he was about a foot away. He was so close. And then he surfaced, stuck his head out of the water, and looked at me. We made eye contact, and then he peacefully swam away.
At that moment I felt so good. It was magic.
And then I heard a young girl, who must have been with the guy who first saw the turtle, yell over to me, “He came to say hi to you!”
And for a moment, I let myself believe that he did, indeed, come to say hello to me.
🐢 ❤️ 🐶
Have some great adventures on your journey, Rocket. I hope to see you again.
Rocket at 4 months with the look that says, “Did you read the ENTIRE Portuguese Water Dog breed description, because it clearly states I am very resistant to fatigue.”