My best friend (ever) was nearly 18 when she passed about a year and a half ago and I still sometimes have misty-eye moments when I think of her. She was with me for so many phases of my life and it really was like losing a family member.
I had thought so many times how I wouldn't rush to replace her because it wouldn't have felt right but a few months before she died I ended up taking in a castaway (didn't play well with others, but never messed with my old dog and she seemed to be cool with him around). After she passed I ended up taking in another castaway (daughter of the first one) and now the 2 little maniacs run the place.
And even though the two of them combined haven't even approached the status of my old friend (these guys are semi-affectionate, maybe in time...) just having them around kept me from going nuts.
