The Cozzie Switch

My golden dog, two days after his death I can still smell his fur in my nose, in my brain. After frantic efforts, we shared his last breath. I watch the life leave his eye. His name was Cosmos and I think there is a switch on the spirally DNA that's turned on more for some than most. Those that have it must beware that it can take them to their deaths. Those that love them must be aware that it can take them to their death. Cozzie's mother knew, it is typical of the breed to have the switch turned on. She always held back a little perhaps knowing where her genes could take her. I always sensed a certain sadness as her doofus son bounced around trying to please her, please me, please everyone! Lick,licks, licks, a thousand licks, even for the cats he shared a household with. I think that his mother knew where it would all end, out on a walking trail on a beautiful day, doing what Cozzie love best, pulling us all down the trail, determined always to be first, dutifully stopping at stop signs, ready to take off when given the "O.K". There came a time in every walk, that I didn't take seriously enough, when he would say, "enough!", and lay panting in the weeds, embarrassed to be seen, and we would wait, until he was ready to resume the lead, apologetically wagging his tail, for the momentary delay. This was a normal day and I trusted nature to set the boundaries never suspecting that Cozzie's switch was turned too high, pushing him beyond endurance, just to please. The day came when his big body collapsed in the weeds, and he could not get up, panting for his life, and apologized to the end, for his inability to please. If only we could hold back those with the Cozzie switch and make them understand that half a big heart is enough.