I’m beginning the second full day without my dog…

… and it sucks. It really sucks.

Lucy’s presence is evident in nearly all aspects of my life. And… nearly all aspects of my work.

February will mark the 17th year of my doing the strip.  Of those 17, Lucy has been part of 11… Making her debut in the strip on September 20, 2008.

I fudged reality just a bit with this… when Lez rescued her from the Humane Society, they named her Dixie.  I was the one who chose Lucy. I just liked the name.

From that first meeting, I probably screamed, muttered, growled and said the word “Lucy” several thousands of times.

I always told Lez that when Lucy passes, I will not be well. At. All.  Just like Lez when she lost her collie Lady. It’s harder than losing a human family member.  I know that seems cruel but it is… and I cannot explain why.

Over the next week or so, I’ll be posting work that are a kind of “Lucy’s Greatest Hits”.  Strips, drawings, etc.  I’m never going to be the same… that could be good or bad.

Thank you for coming along with me while I work through this.

The “Goodbye Lucy” strips will begin on the week of January 21.