About 10 years ago, Bucky and I started dating. At that same time, Bucky's mom started dating someone. Mr. Teddy. She moves a whole lot faster than I do and they were married that same year. For all my "life" with Bucky, Mr. Teddy has been a part of it.
Yesterday, we said goodbye to Teddy under the same tree where he said "I Do" to Bucky's Mom 10 years ago. In the early morning of the 4th, Teddy took his Independence from the cancer and went to a pain free and loving home. I am so glad that Bucky got to be there for him mom during all of it. I know he has been her rock so many times before.
It is hard to imagine going to visit in Mullins and Teddy not being there. He always had a smile and kiss ready for me and unwavering patience with my fascination with horses. No matter how many times I visited, he would make sure I got to ride each time if possible (you would think I might be decent at it by now then). His hand amazed me. They could be so gentle with a horse in need, so handy to build a flower shop or addition to the house, so loving to help a bride into the carriage for her wedding, and so strong to weather the events that his family has endured. He had some of the longest fingers I have ever seen and his fingernails were really wide- they covered the whole width of the finger, with next to no skin around the edges that you saw from top. It is amazing the little things you think about when you remember someone.
I can only wait until the time that I can see Teddy again. For the day, he can play with Maggie once again but until I remind myself that he has gone home, to a better place where he can watch over all of us.