Candela

2011 - 2026

Nuestra querida candela,

You had a habit of stealing pieces from our puzzles, but somehow, you became the one piece our family could never be complete without.

It is hard to imagine our house without you. Without the sound of your paws clicking across the hardwood floor. Without the sound of your bark the second the clock struck 6 p.m. and you decided it was time for dinner. Without you sitting on the front lawn, watching every car and every person go by, convinced they were your sheep.

I cannot explain how, at just twelve years old, I somehow knew that the only girl in a litter of six was meant to be ours. With your little socks and your perky ears, you quickly won over everyone you met. You had the gentlest soul, except when the lawn mower came out.

Thank you for your unconditional love and loyalty.

Thank you for taking care of Mom and Dad. For watching Josefina and me grow up. For being brave enough to get on a plane and cross an entire hemisphere to come home to us. Thank you for giving our days structure and purpose, for making us wake up early and take you on your daily walks, and for giving us a reason to get outside every single day.

Thank you for being the sweetest girl we could have ever asked for.

You became so much more than our dog. You became part of the fabric of our family. You were in our photos, our stories, our routines, and even the name of our family group chat: Candelita.

You were everywhere.

And you will always be a shining light in our family.

I hope you are having the time of your life running around the farm in Chile with your brother Simba and your parents, Luna and Kaiser. I hope you are young again, running as fast as you can, with those little socks flying behind you.

And when you find Tata, give him a huge kiss from all of us. Remind him that you still need your morning and evening walks. I know he will know exactly what to do.

We love you forever, Candy.

ps - keep off the tissues