Disclaimer

It might seem like Echo and I a growing TOO attached.

This would be a good time to re-visit my son, Brandon.

Okay, my brother is his biological father.  AND, my brother's best friend from high school was his step-father.

I AM Brandon's only "Dad".

There is a long story to go with this, but, Brandon only lived in my house for 13 months.

After that, he got married, and then, joined the Army.

I did my best with the time I had, but, I had to let him go.  To do otherwise would have been a disservice to him.

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It's kind of the same with Echo.

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At my retirement physical today, a nurse and I had a conversation about Echo.

I told her about the entire situation with Echo.

The fact that both of her parents were "service dogs".

That, of her litter, she seemed to be the most apt to be a "service dog".

The bond that we share.

The nurse, at first, couldn't understand how and why I would do this.

It's simple.

It's "Brandon", all over again.

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She is "my little girl", forever.

However, she has the potential to do great, and wonderful things.

If I hold on to her, and don't let her go to do them, then, I am doing a disservice to her, and whatever veteran she was MEANT to help.

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Brandon is a medic in Germany, with the Army, now.

He is helping soldiers EVERYDAY.

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Echo is meant to help a single veteran, EVERYDAY.

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When she begins to do that, I will be just as proud of her as I am of Brandon.

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Whether it's Brandon, Jesus, or Echo, there will come a time where the best thing I can do is to let them go, and allow them to be what they are supposed to become.

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So, Echo has become "Daddy's Little Girl", for the moment. .... and I am enjoying the moment, mostly.

I know the moment will pass all too soon.

If I can, in the end, be as proud of Echo's service, as I am of Brandon's service, then, that's a good answer.