A few more tears to muse the words and tomorrow is a new day. We never know how little time only that we always have too little time and everyone we love will pass and so will we. And Java’s lookin’ at you cause he’s lookin’ at me always and this change reminds me of loss and good-bye’s and I’m only human so I don’t love either.
There are only so many mile markers in our lives and some are love and some are loss and some are both. And this is both.
The last night at the Team House, Neptune Beach, Florida is tonight. A whisper magnified by ten years of life crammed into the last two and we’re all lucky for the wear.
And when the sadness I mean change fades and the fabric of my life evolves as it already is and has I’ll remember the magic where you were a stranger here but once.
Especially if you’re good with fightin’ weapons like sticks.
Then comes the cone of shame and nobody escapes what’s most worth it unscathed and bruises are the currency of experience so I’ll say we played the life game hard and well.
And gentlemanly.
Of all the people who came and of all the people who stayed this place was only ever right with Java around so it’s been dying one day at a time for the last year in his absence and sometimes you gotta know when to let something run its course lest you become the rock band on tour 20 years later playing the same old songs only half as good as the radio could.
But good and bad and change and loss all converge and we find the tomorrows of our lives through the todays and remembering to remember our loves is always worth the time.
On what would have been Java’s 8th birthday, here’s to the past and here’s to the future and here’s to the present and it’s not so much about the places as it is the people and the memories so here’s to many more and to whatever birthday change Java I mean we have to pay to get there, it’s worth it.
We’ve never met
And I’ve never been to the team house,
and I’ve only ever loved Java through your photographs and stories.
But I’m weeping at my kitchen table all the same.
Just like I did when I read he was gone.
What can I say?
Nothing that even has an outside chance of putting a dent in the hollowness of a night like this, I know.
But if a stranger’s thoughts can provide any comfort at all, please know you have mine, genuine and lasting.
Good Write up Jason.
Jason,
Because of you and GORUCK, my dog and I ruck on the weekends and I’m not positive but if you ask him, he probably gets more excited about it than I do. I can only hope one day that he and I share the kind of bond that you and Java had…and you and Monster will.
….’Merica, GORUCK and man’s best friend forever.
Miss you, Jav.
Jason..my K-9 partner left my family and I year and a half ago. He served and protected better than I ever could. Reading your words brought me back to a place I avoid, but cherish. See you in Cleveland this month.
I’m disappointed I couldn’t make it down for the last event at the team house. I have terrific albeit fuzzy memories of the after party for an event that never happened in Jacksonville and another great memory of some big sloppy face kisses from Java after July 4th ruck in DC last year. Thanks for sharing your home and vision with us and for inspiring us to be better Americans
We lost our dog we had for the last 14 years 9-23-14. He was with my wife and I almost as long we’ve been together. He’s been with us longer than our children. I’m thankful we got to be with him in his last moments when he left us.