Dear Precious,

I wanted to take the time to say some things in loo of my going off to college. First off, I wanted you to knw I love you despite the fact you’re kind of crazy. I love you despite your random possessiveness about your food and bones, which I completely understand, by the way, I love you when you decide to bark on end for hours just because Mom or I stopped petting you for like a minute.

I want to also mention how much fun I’ve had these years with you. Like when we first got you, and that the day when we first met in the visiting room you came straight to me. Or the fact that the shelter named you Precious, and I was totally prepared with an arsenal of names that ended up becoming your middle names (Precious Princess Penelope DiGiacomo, no I am not kidding). The times you have been so cool with all of the friends except Sydni who you hated up until June where we discovered that you are mellowing out with age.

Or the day I took you the park and you almost died (well not died just was severely unprepared the long walks I take (hey exercise!), or the fact that you are kind of fat and that played into your inability to handle my walk, but you’ve been the best friend friend a human could have that’s why I’m so sad that I have to leave you.

I guess I should address it; I think you know something is up. There’s a lot of stuff taking up the dining room where you frequently nap because of the sunlight, and just the mood of the home is a little different. Bittersweet. I guess should explain it.

In about two weeks, I will be moving out of our house (but I still live there, that's strange I know) and into a dorm at college. And I hate to tell you like this, but you won't be able to smell me, lick me and see me every day and night.

The sound of the bus or my car won't be the cue that Gi’s home. And that totally sucks. But don’t worry because I will miss you like crazy and will probably have to drive over the bridge (yes, I’d do that for you) just to see you go crazy when you see me.

This isn’t the end of our relationship, just the beginning of a different part of it. And you’ll see, that is something that is changing with everyone, so you aren’t the only one. So for now, just accept my random hugs and cuddles, and my sad gazes at you. It’s not your fault, it is just becoming so real suddenly.

I promise it will be okay, just different. Just take care of yourself, like taking your meds and stick around to see how well I handle college. I promise you that I will catch you up everything and then we can watch Netflix together when I am home. I will make sure that Mom and Dad send a ton of photos/videos of you because you are really my sister.

Love you so much that I cried while writing this (both times) and I won’t label myself one to cry,

Giavanna DiGiacomo

(The little sister who gave you bacon from the table one of the first days we got you)