Coco

 

Coco, watercolours on paper. 38  x 28 cm (© Carin Steen) 2026

This is sweet Coco. She was my friend Ana Maria's dog, in Guatemala. A rescue of course, a sweet and gentle soul. Whenever I came to the house, her sister Tana would give me a bolderous welcome. Not Coco. She would step aside until she saw an opportunity to come forward for our own ritual, a gentle kiss, before letting Tana take over again. Always. Not once did we not exchange that sweet, tender kiss.Not even the very last time when I saw her, back in March, when she was weak and in decline. I knew it would be the last time I'd see her. It was time. 

Saying a final goodbye is always hard. I wish dogs would understand our words. How much they they mean to us, how much they will be missed. They probably do anyway.

 I have known Coco for 12 years. She was such a special dog. So gentle, cautious, a fussy eater, always the quiet one in the background, but never far away. Despite it being such a sad occasion, I was happy to have been able to giver her that last hug, that last kiss.

My love to Ana Maria and Tana.