Oh, how I miss you, my dear Roady
Though I never liked dogs, I fell in love with you
I miss the noise of you prancing on our hardwood floor
You were my only friend who truly knew me
We both needed each other, yet we didn’t know it
I wish I could choose my favorite memory of you
Yet I can’t, I have so many
I remember the time we met like it was yesterday
I begged my dad to let me have you
He finally said “Yes” on my birthday
I still find your hair everywhere
In my suitcase from when you didn’t want me to leave
On my bed, where I still feel you sleeping
I miss taking you on road trips and to my shows
You were my best friend
I was broken when I lost you
I sometimes hear you walking around
Quickly I turn,  hoping to see you
And find nothing but air

Once again,
down the highway
rides the Roady clan;

the man,
the dog,
the teena-dult,

and the not-so-little girl,
whose music tastes are developing
quite nicely;

All the way from
annoying, repetitive songs about cats
to "Bohemian RATsody",
some good ole' Rick Astley,
and the timeless Bo Burnham classics,

I feel more and more honored
to be granted access
to the ever-expanding world
within her headspace...

Her humor is advanced,
and her laughter is contagious,
but also mischievous,
just like her eyes;
so captivating,
both pale and bright blue;
they always tell me,

"She looks just like you!!"

....And I remember....
when I was her age,
just before she entered this crazy world,
I began to believe I was all alone,
so distant
from a true connection
and likeness
that biology and chance
would soon set right in front of me....

But here we are;
10 years flew by just like that,
and here she is,
almost too big to sit on my lap,
or ride on my back,

but still little enough
to laugh at the misfortune of Rat
being hit with a baseball bat
when nobody even knows why,
and luckily,
SO AM I....