Signs

             If you don't believe there is more to life than what we see and hear every day, then you should probably stop reading this and grab the remote control and enjoy a night of American Idol or the Kardashians. If however, you do believe there is something extra and unexplained about life and death, and you are willing to share my sadness, then please listen to my story.

I met my best friend a little over ten years ago. Instantly there was an unbreakable bond that made us inseparable. We would spend countless hours walking or running through the trails behind our home. We would stay up late, talk for hours and hours, and it always seemed he knew exactly what to say. We ate every lunch and dinner together and he never once complained what I cooked. I am not ashamed to say this, but we even slept together. I gave him baths and my wife would cut and brush his golden hair.

If you haven't figured it out yet I am telling you a story about my dog "Bailey". He was my buddy, my pal, my best friend. I spent all day every day making sure he was safe and happy and he spent all day making sure I felt loved.

Like most stories about a man and his dog the ending is never as good as the beginning. Inevitably time catches up to both of them and man's best friend is called away. Some call it a rainbow bridge, I call it heartache. My boy died in my arms surrounded by his family and friends on Tuesday evening around 7PM. He had been sick for a long time and as you can imagine I am devastated. My best friend taken from me. How do you go on with life when you lose precious cargo?

Why?? Why would God take the most innocent and loving creature from my life? He was all things good. Why would God have him suffer in the end? I asked God these questions but only silence came my way. I asked God for a sign and God delivered.

Today is Thursday, two days after my Bailey passed. I was traveling over the Gold Star Bridge when I remembered I wanted to see a good friend who works at the Coast Guard Academy. Now keep in mind I have lived the majority of my life in New London County and know exactly what exit to take off of the bridge to quickly arrive at the Academy. For some reason, maybe I was daydreaming, I got off the wrong exit and needed to do an immediate U-Turn to head back to the Coast Guard. I found the very first street and pulled in to turn around when I was shocked to see a message straight from Bailey to me.

The picture you see is the street I turned down to do a U-Turn.  

I think that qualifies as a sign.