Remembering

An old friend's dog companion
of 18 years died recently.
I took him a glass of whiskey
and we toasted old friends
and companions now gone.
And we both had tears in our eyes.
Because I learned a long time ago
that life does not consist of how much stuff we have accumulated.
It consists of people and animals
who love us and who we love.
Stuff can be replaced if it is lost.
Those we love leave a permanent hole in our heart
when they are gone.