RIP Taggie

This is an excerpt from my blog on myspace. I thought it worthy of posting here for people who don't have a myspace.
The pictures dont seem to want to post, I will work on more updates later.
Ciao!

In Loving Memory of Devoted Friend

Taggie

Arrived June, 2006--Departed July 2008

Taggie was brought to us by our friends Heather Smeal and J. May. As an original gift to a soon to be baby boy Matthew. Trapped in the confines of my uterus, Matt stood no chance to ever really know Taggie. Zachary used his one year to his advantage and claimed Taggie as his own. Taggie stood firmly by Zac's side for these past few years, an unfailing and devoted side-kick. He will be dearly missed.

If Zac could tell his story of what Taggie meant to him, Im sure he would mention all the trips they took together. The Zoo, the Omniplex, play dates, holidays, and the long weekends at the lake. But what truly meant the most was the countless hours of sleep they had together. Eleven to twelve hours a night plus an hour or two during the day. More than a companion...a soldier of friendship.

It was during his service to that bond that Taggie was lost to us. On July 2nd Taggie performed his last duty to this family. On that fateful trip to Toys-R-Us, little did we know. Somewhere, more than likely the bikes...around the ride-on's and four-wheelers...Taggie went MIA. At approximately 1800 hours Zac asked, "where's my Taggie?" It was at that moment I knew. "Remember Zac, you took him to the store. You must have left him there." Normally, we adopt the no-man-left-behind attitude in our house. But on this trip we all dropped the ball. "But I NEED my TAGGIE!" Zac was devastated, distraught, disgruntled and all the other 'dis words. I tried to console, I tried to cojole, to no avail. "I'm very sad I lost my Taggie." "Im really REALLY sad I lost my Taggie!" I went to his room that night and tried to reassure him he still had Mr Turtle. "There, don't you feel better that you have Mr. Turtle with you to sleep with?" I asked hopefully. "No, no Im not. He's sad too about I lost my Taggie." Only time can heal these wounds.

I would like us all to have a small moment of silence to remember Taggie. I will leave you with some pictures, doing what he loved the most.

And this is Chris' reply/comment to that post:

Great YaGooGalie Honey!I would just like to add that it is a true miracle when several folded and sewn-together pieces of cloth are combined to give such special and fuzzy comfort to even one small boy. This downy soft warrior endured snot, drool, boogers and even the secondary injuries resulting from accidents involving urine. Did we ever hear him complain? No. In fact, in his silence, I believe he was communicating that he was willing, nay eager, to continue in his duty. Regardless of harm to his woolly middle, or any of his numerous taggie appendages.

Let it be shouted from on high, that this was the best of us. This Taggie kept away monsters, laid motionless as he should, and righted the wrongs of this imperfect world. A man among rags, always choosing to this, that and the other things, not because they were easy, but because they were difficult.

This wonderful blog has afforded me the opportunity to air my praise, adulation and now sorrow over the life and loss of Taggie. May his selfless service be remembered with reverence, and forever be written in the annals of history alongside the true definition of HERO.

- Chris Harris