In this series, I'll be featuring eulogies to aid and inspire readers. If you're interested in having a eulogy featured, please send it to me at beth@goodwordsforgrieving.com. If you need assistance writing a eulogy, please see the resources available here, or send me an email.
Enzo was loved every moment of this life. Since the day he was born until his last breath.
His life truly began the day he met his momma. It was a beautifully warm fall day in upstate New York. There was not a cloud in the sky. The sun was beaming warm glowing rays to the earth. It was the kind of day that provided the perfect back drop for the meeting of two beings that are deeply connected on a soul level. It was love at first site.
Enzo joined his family later that fall. Unlike the lovely circumstance for meeting his Momma, meeting his shih tzu sister, Loki, was the complete opposite. It was cold and dark as Enzo came home at night and Loki tolerated Enzo until she found out that not only was he coming inside her house, but he was staying. It took about a week, but they eventually grew to like and then love each other. They played together and cuddled side by side. Loki encouraged Enzo to play and Enzo helped Loki calm down, especially when their humans were away.
Enzo met his Mike in 2013 and that’s when our foursome, our family was finally complete.
Throughout his life, Enzo lived in Ballston Spa, NY; Glens Falls, NY; Rotterdam, NY; Malden, MA and Dedham; MA. He was there when Lindsey quit the lobbying firm and started working in higher ed fundraising. He was there when Lindsey first tried yoga, throughout all her job changes and move to Boston in summer 2014. Loki and Enzo were with Lindsey and Mike when they got engaged, when they got married and bought their first house. Enzo was there for all the important moments and the regular day to day. He was a constant source of unconditional love and comfort. He was the North Star of the family.
For a little black and white shihtzu who loved relaxing at home, Enzo got around. Even though Enzo preferred to relax at home, he was happiest when he was with his family and they travelled a lot together. Enzo has been to at least 10 states. Trips include countless times in Liverpool, NY between 2010 and 2024; Pittsburgh in 2011; the Outer Banks in 2015; many trips to Stowe, Burlington and Killington, VT between 2015 and 2024; Nantucket in 2017; Raleigh, NC in 2017 and 2018; Philadelphia, PA in 2015; Albany and Troy, NY throughout the years; Friendship, ME in 2017; Portland, ME in 2018; Acadia, ME in 2018, 2022 and 2023; Cape Cod, specifically Truro in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; Bristol, RI in 2019; Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 and Lake Placid in 2023.
Enzo had the most adorable bursts of energy. He didn’t have the urge for long walks (although we could eventually convince him to come along). His vibrance was more in spirts. Enzo would sprint as fast as he could, chasing his momma, his sister, or the breeze. He would go all out, as hard as he could for about 10 seconds before dropping down on the ground, tongue out and curled at the tip, almost like he was saying “That was fun, but now I’m done”. His favorite places to have the zoomies where chasing Loki around Omi’s pool, at his favorite sandy and secluded spot at Horn Pond, and around his favorite grassy park in Malden.
Enzo had the sweetest and most gentle soul. He wouldn’t even hurt a bug, he just watched them, adorably tilting his head to the one side and then the other as soon as one caught his eye and as they walked buy. While he would eventually give into us and come on walks (and usually enjoyed them once he got going), his favorite thing was to be comfortable at home with his family, wrapped in fleece blankets. He loved an place that was soft and warm, such as on just about any bed, the couch or anything fleecy. Later in his life he loved cuddling up to his momma along her left side as we watched movies, as she read, and went to sleep. Enzo’s favorite spot was on the top of the couch near a window and in the sun, especially the Malden couch, which he spent so much time on that it eventually re-formed into a perfect mold of Enzo’s body. He loved sunbathing in the warm rays. Often we would see him sleeping in the glowing light with a big smile on his face.
He was loving and he was trusting. While Loki would get nervous when we were getting ready to leave the house, Enzo never worried. Whether he was coming with us or not, it was not a concern, he always knew we would return home to him. He was always such a calm presence.
The only thing Enzo may have possibly liked more than being comfortable were treats. He loved treats so much that he could spell the word. We eventually made a song for TREATs that we would sing to him. Sometimes all it took was the letter T for him to jump up and get excited and do his “happy treat dance”. Enzo was also very smart. He always knew the shortest path back home to his couch and he knew how to get treats without any effort. Usually he would just let Loki play and do all the work, waiting for the magic words: “What do you get when you place nice? What do you get when you are a good dog?” He would jump up after watching her play, often times to the response of, “Enzo what did you do to deserve a treat? you did nothing” said with a big laugh. Of course he always got one. How could you not give a treat to that sweet face.
Enzo, we think about you every single day. We miss you so much sweet boy. Saying goodbye to you is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do and life will never be the same without you. We feel you everywhere and we carry you in our hearts every moment of every day. We see you in the clouds, we see you in starlight and we feel you when the wind blows through the trees and when a soft warm breeze brushes across our face.
I often times envision where you are now and what your heaven or rainbow bridge is like. If you were able to create your spot on the rainbow bridge, it would be full of treats. Piles of them. You could have as much as you want whenever you want. Milkbones, steak, chicken, puppachino. All of your favorites. You have all your teeth again and you can eat bones as fast as Loki. The sun is always shining. It’s your favorite temperature all the time 75 degrees, no humidity, with a soft warm breeze. You lay and roll in the grass. You roll in something stinky. You watch bugs walk by. You scare off other dogs that are bigger than you and feel proud. You walk when you feel like it, and only as far as you want too, and all parts of your walk are on “Treat Row”, which is what we would always refer to as the last leg of the walk as we returned to the house. There are no stones at your rainbow bridge (you hated walking on stones), only beautiful lush, green grass that’s always at the perfect short height. You snooze in the sun with a smile on your face. You lay wrapped in fleece blankets under a big beautiful tree when you choose too. The Malden couch is there, molded to your body near a window. You have a big soft human bed or dog bed and can sleep wherever, whenever you choose. Your fur is always at the perfect length and you never need to be groomed, have a bath or need to get your nails clipped. The only water at your rainbow bridge is treat water, or T-Dubbs as we called it and your metal bowl is always full and it’s not on a LLBean waterhog mat, which you often refused to stand on.
Like you have done some many times throughout your life, like in Raleigh or when we go on ski trips, or even at home, you would prefer to hang out upstairs in a bedroom away from the noise. You liked to hear us and know we were there but didn’t want to be in it, preferring to be in your own peaceful space nearby. That is where I imagine you are now. Upstairs, in a peaceful, warm place full of light, happiness and comfort. Not so far away. You stay close to us. You watch us and listen to us. Sometimes you ride the wind back down to be with us. You rustle the leaves on the trees and softly kiss our faces with the breeze. You appear in the clouds. You are in the sunlight that sparkles on the water. You are in the starlight and the moonlight. Sometimes you send us feathers, with bluejay feathers being extra special. Our souls remain connected through love. You are the warmth in our hearts. You are there every moment, and we will hold you there until we meet again someday. We love you Enzo, endlessly and always.
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