Last summer my husband and I lost a very dear friend, our poodle, Jibs. He was 16 years old when he left us and there isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of him.

Jibs loved many things, but nothing more than fishing and riding in our motor boat. When he saw the fishing line go taunt, he would jump in our lap and think he was helping us bring the fish in. Actually, we were trying not to lose Jibs overboard while trying to bring the fish onboard. Once the fish was in the boat, Jibs would insist on licking it before we released it back into the water. I'm sure that fish had stories to tell later on.

We also had a small sailboat and Jibs had his very own bright yellow life jacket. Jibs never did become accustomed to sailing - he much preferred the motor boat as the deck stayed level. There was nothing harder than trying to work the sails and grab Jibs at the same time as he was sliding port or starboard.

Jibs traveled with us for many miles in our RV, all up and down the East Coast and to our final destination, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He loved to travel and couldn't wait to smell all the new smells when we would stop for the night.

Jibs even went up a ski lift with us in Vermont. As long as he was with us, he was a happy camper - as were we when he was with us.

We love all our pets dearly, but we miss our beloved Jibs and all the great times we had. We have wonderful memories to sustain us for now, as I'm sure Jibs is eagerly waiting for us in heaven. I sure hope they have fishing in heaven.