Ever since Chooch passed, mornings have felt empty. He was woven into the very rhythm of my day — from the sound of his paws padding across the floor to the way he’d nudge me gently, tail wagging, ready to start our routine. He was always there, waiting with his soulful eyes and soft, comforting presence. Coffee didn’t taste the same without him curled up beside me. Even the quiet felt louder without his breathing and little grunts filling the space.
Chooch wasn’t just a dog — he was my morning companion, my comfort, my reason to smile before the world even started moving. Losing him shattered a piece of my daily joy. I found myself staring at his old bed, half expecting him to come running in, happy and bright-eyed. It hurt. The silence was a cruel reminder of how much had changed.
But then there’s CiCi.
CiCi, with her boundless energy and silly antics, has gently nudged her way into that broken space in my mornings. She’s not here to replace Chooch — no one ever could. But somehow, she knows how to lift the heaviness just enough to let a little light in. Her goofy expressions, the way she tosses her toys into the air, and how she tilts her head when I talk to her — they all bring warmth back to the beginning of my day.
Some mornings, I still cry. I still miss Chooch deeply. But CiCi, in her own loving way, reminds me that it’s okay to smile again. She reminds me that love didn’t leave — it just looks different now.
Now, I wake up to CiCi’s playful bark and her excited hops. She leads me outside like Chooch used to, urging me to greet the day. I swear, sometimes it feels like Chooch is watching from somewhere above, tail wagging, happy that I’m not alone.
Thank you, sweet CiCi, for being my little light. For helping me carry the memory of Chooch with a little less pain and a little more love. You may not know the weight you’ve lifted, but your joy is saving me one morning at a time.
