You want to know what's funny? When we first met we didn't even like each other. I can remember very clearly on that day I was busy getting ready for my appearance on tv when he arrived at the house.

We exchanged pleasantries and I left. From time to time we would see each other and we sort of tolerated each other. One day all that changed. My partner had gotten seriously ill and had to be hospitalized. Eventually he died. One night when I was mourning my partner's death, he came into my room and comforted me. From that moment on we were inseperable. Some of my others friends would even call him my shadow.

After six months, I decided that I needed to go on with my life. I gave all my belongings away to members of the church and applied for a job at the Louise Hay clinic in California. Since I had to give up the house 3 weeks before the date of employment, I moved in with friends until it was time to leave.

I also decided that my new best friend needed to get himself another place to stay. I even helped him and introduced him to several good families but he wouldn't have no part of them. This concerned me since he didn't like to move around and got car sick every time we went anywhere.

On the day that I was to leave my house, I was surprised to find him sitting in the front seat of the car as I packed. It was as if he was saying to me, hurry up, let's get out of here. I warned him that I really didn't even know where I was going and that it would be a long ride. He just looked at me. He took the ride real well and didn't even get sick.

Leaving for California from Florida was another matter. There was no way I could subject him to this chaos and I left him with friends until I could send for him later. Thank God, for California was a disaster and I spent one month in Texas trying to regroup. When I finally came back to Florida, it was nearly a week before he would even acknowledge my presence. I promised him I would never leave him again and we made up.

When it was time to move to Las Vegas, he was a trooper. Flying all by himself and not knowing where he was going, He was great. Even when I got sick and was hospitalized he stayed with me and when I got home he was so glad to see me I cried at his loyality.

Then it was his turn. I began to notice he was slower and had a noticable limp. So off to the doctor we went. The doctor informed us that his disks in his spine were fusing and that eventually he would be crippled. I asked the doctor if an operation would help and he said that the degeneration had progressed to the point that nothing would help. He suggested that we talk about euthanasia.

Having to deal with the death of so many of my friends and loved ones and my own illness was just too much for me. I knew I did not want my friend to suffer but I could not bear the thought of us not being together. I prayed for a sign and got a miracle.

One night I dreamed about my partner playing with my best friend in our house in Florida. I asked him what he was doing here and he said that he was here to help our mutual friend come home and play. He looked at me and said It 's time for you to let go.

The next morning I made the necessary arrangements. The docor said that I could stay with my friend until the end but I declined. Too much death, doctor, I said, I'd rather remember him the way he is now. We said goodbye in the office before they wheeled him away. You know that was the first time we ever kissed each other.

It's been four years since that day and time has begun to heal my memories. The emptyness will always be there but the pain has subsided a lot. I will never forget my best friend. His name was Bruno. He was part Cocker, part Pikenese with a heart as big as all outdoors and an attitide to match. I carry his picture in my wallet. In fact it is the only memory I have of my life in Florida. I kept the best of the memories.