Open Door Policy

When you have a dog, you have to have a doggy door.
And the doggy door has to be left open so that the doggy can come and go as it needs to.
For ten years, we have had a doggy door; and the door has stayed open as Lacey would come and go all throughout the day to do her business.
But since Monday night, the door has been closed.  No need to have it open anymore.
That's the only thing that has made me cry. I don't LIKE the door closed.
Over the past four days, we (Del, Kathryn and I), have felt the loss of Lacey's presence.  We miss her.  We are used to having her greet us each day at the door as we come home from work. I am used to her snoring on the floor by me side of the bed and each morning, shaking her ears back and forth as she wakes up and stands for the first time of the day.  When Del would go to the bathroom first thing in the morning, Lacey would come and stand in front of him, insisting Del pet and scratch her ears as he sat there.  Then she would anxiously wait for him to dress, so that he could take her for their daily walk...every day...for ten years.  When we would eat ice cream, Lacey would patiently wait for the final spoon scraping the bottom of the bowl; at which time, she knew we would put the bowl down for her to lick clean.  No matter where she was in the house, she would hear that spoon and come running.
When we sat to watch t.v, Del would put his feet up on the ottoman and Lacey would climb up and lay by the side of his leg and sleep until Del got up to do something else.  In the morning, when Del would go into his office to do his scripture reading and studying, Lacey would go in and sit on Del's feet under the desk. Del was continually having to watch for Lacey under his feet - he's mentioned several times since Monday night, that he has caught himself looking for her underfoot as he goes from room to room.  he even got teary eyed as he shared some thoughts of her yesterday.
What a sweet dog.
The door is closed now.  We'll keep the doggy door, just because we can't afford to change it out.  It will stay, as a reminder of the sweet ten years we had of a really beautiful, loving, playful, devoted and loyal friend that we extended the 'Open Door Policy' to, with much love.