Clancy and Cooper

Clancy and Cooper
Coop the poop we called him. But his name was Cooper and he and his brother Clancy came into our lives December 2002. Cooper was the runt and Clancy was the big guy of the litter and they were inseparable from the day they were born. Cooper was shy and humble and a super swimmer but he was terrified of thunder and lightning and would hide in the deepest, darkest furthermost corner of the house during storms. He was also unbelievably brave. When he got bone cancer no one knew it – not even the vet – because he tried so hard to hang in there during family hikes and trips to the park and the swimming beach. The vet thought it was just a “tweaked knee”. Finally the bone cancer was discovered and we had to say goodbye to our beautiful, precious boy. We knew that he was now pain free and running and swimming to his heart’s content. We also knew, though, that he was missing his brother and his brother was missing him.

Then, two weeks later, we lost his brother.

Clancy was our big lover boy. All he ever wanted from life was to love and be loved. And lots and lots of cuddles and hugs. Clancy’s version of a hug was to stand between your legs and have you bend over and wrap your arms around him. Considering he was 130 pounds this was no easy thing, but so completely worth the effort. He was loyal and loving and he loved eating “snow cones” during the winter. He wasn’t the swimmer his brother was, but he loved “fishing” by the shore while Cooper swam after his swimming stick. More than anything on earth though, he loved his brother Cooper. Clancy was there when Cooper went to heaven and he seemed relieved that Cooper was finally rid of the pain he knew he’d suffered from before any of us knew. But he grieved for his brother for 2 weeks. Then, the worst news came. Clancy also had cancer – a different type but a more aggressive cancer. So, 2 weeks and 1 day later, we had to say goodbye to our other precious boy. We know they’re together again and pain and illness-free and we know we’ll all be reunited one day. Until that day, we will cherish every memory, every moment, every picture and thank God for sending these 2 loving, devoted Golden angels our way.