Sixteen years ago this fall we got Max. We named him Maxwell Benjamin's Legacy after Benji, a rescue terrier we had just lost. We had Heidi, our 16-year old doxie who ruled the roost and Max tried forever to get her to play and she just gave him "the look" - the doggie version of you've got to be kidding me - just don't get in the way of my treats and oh by the way that's MY comforter.

Max was a crazy pup but was fun loving and full of life almost to the very end. I got the feeling he put up with me because I came with Pete. I was the crazy doxie lady but because I was in charge of food and treats he thought I was okay.

Max was the most polite dog we've ever had. After he came in from a walk he would sit patiently in the kitchen while his doxie brethren went wild for their treats and attention. He sat up with me many a night while I was doing my office work and occasionally I got to trap him for a snuggle.

We never realized how close he and Shorty were until after Shorty died in 2007. He paced all over the house and would stand on the back deck staring out over the back yard looking for his buddy. Heartbreaking. I guess all those years he kind of kept it close to his vest. He loved his walks and went wild in the car. He had such a strong presence that when he spent a day at the groomers we all longed for his return. He had a loud, screechy bark that I'd give anything to hear again.

Sometimes he would come to me when he wasn't feeling good and if I started with the waterworks he would give me "the look". We thought we'd dodged a bullet earlier this year when he was sick but the tumor proved to be too much for him. I used to tell Max, "You're going to Florida with us" and he is, though not the way we would have liked. He is forever in our hearts.

We'll seeya when we seeya, Max.