On This Day...

I am ridiculously and unapologetically sentimental.

Long before Facebook came out with its "On This Day" feature, I was constantly sharing endless memories with my family about important and not-so-important event anniversaries – things like, "7 years ago today, we got Muggsi" (our family's first Dachshund) and "13 years ago today, I started wearing contact lenses!"

I've been doing this for as long as I can remember.  I just have a thing for numbers and dates!  I have notebooks, calendars, planners, and agendas going back about 30 years, but I usually don't even have to try hard to remember important dates and events; it's like they occupy a permanent space in my brain.  While this is not really a useful skill to have, it does make for many happy recollections throughout the days and months of the year.

If you think it might be annoying to have a family member like me, imagine what it's like to be married to me!  Poor C!  On at least a weekly basis, and sometimes on a daily basis, I remind him, "23 years ago today, we went to WDW together for the first time" or "6 years ago, someone smashed into your car at the train station."  SO fun for him, right!?!  Especially when I catch him off guard and remind him of romantic anniversaries!  He's really good about the big ones, but I remember everything and often recall things like when we took a sleigh ride through the snow in Vermont or when we visited the Eiffel Towel.

It really must be exhausting to listen to me most days!

Why am I thinking about this today?  Because – you guessed it! – today is a memorable milestone in our relationship…it's the 29^th of December and today is the 29^th anniversary of our first kiss.

I wish I could tell you that it was a super romantic, swoon-worthy event.  It was not.  My parents – as you know, I love them! – were very strict and I had a 10 pm curfew on Fridays and Saturdays (I was NOT allowed to go out during the week).  These are things I am so grateful for now, seeing as I was only 15, but at the time, I hated these rules!  Nonetheless, it was winter break, so I was allowed to go out with friends.

A friend and I ended up hanging out with C and two of his friends for the evening.  When it was time for me to go home – you know, before 10 pm – C's friend borrowed his mom's station wagon (it was the '80's!) and we all piled into the car.  C sat in the very back and I sat in the back seat.  As we driving to my house, I reached back to hold his hand over the seat, because we'd been talking for almost two weeks (our epic 10-hour first phone call took place on December 17th) and I was completely smitten.  Like head over heels for this boy.

Let me be frank.  I was not cool by any stretch of the imagination.  Thick glasses, braces, one of the "new" kids at school that year…and as a result, I was not the most confident of girls.  But I knew that I liked him. SO much.  And when we got to my house, I decided it was now or never, so right before I got out of the car, I leaned back over the seat and planted a kiss on him.

In front of our three friends.

In a station wagon.

And if I had the chance for a do-over, I wouldn't take it.  Because it was magical.  Right then and there, I knew I would remember that exact moment for the rest of my life.

Without a doubt, one of the bravest things I've ever done.  Clearly also one of the smartest.

29 years after that kiss, I am still reminded of the importance of being brave.  Even when you have a million reasons to doubt yourself, be brave.  Even when you're not ready, be brave.  This has propelled me through some scary moments in my life: serious ones, when C and I had to live in two different countries for four-and-a-half years due to immigration issues; fun ones, when I jumped off a very high and terrifying cliff into the Colorado River with my brother; and career-altering ones, when I took a three-year hiatus from teaching to return to school and begin working on my Ph.D.

If my nerdy, awkward, 15-year old self was able to summon the courage to kiss the boy of her dreams, there's no limit to what anyone can do if they're brave enough.

Here's to the next 29 years of kissing that same boy!  #soincrediblylucky

Happy Tails to you!

Christmas 2017

This is a quick post to recap Christmas and share a few photos.  Back at Thanksgiving time, we were so worried about Maddy, and the two weeks following Thanksgiving were all about her recovery from surgery, so this has felt like a very truncated Christmas season for us.

Nonetheless, it has been a very nice Christmas break so far!  C has been off the entire time with me, so that in and of itself, is a gift!

Somehow I've been to the movies three times in one week:  I went to lunch and to see Coco with one of my very favorite former students; I saw Coco again the day after Christmas with C, my mom, and my brother; and I saw The Last Jedi for the second time with C and my family a few days before Christmas.  Three movies in five days!  I've already written about how much I loved Coco, but overall, I really liked TLJ, too!  There were some aspects that I thought were ridiculous or unnecessary, but compared to The Force Awakens – which I despised – it was a decided upgrade in my opinion!

Highlight of Christmas?  Spending time with our baby niece, who is the cutest thing on two legs! Yay! So fun!

Lowlight of Christmas? C's parents not being able to make it down here from Canada because of the record snowfall in northwest PA and western NY!  Boooooo. Thanks for nothing, weather!

I don't know if it's age, the result of the year we've had, a combination of these two things, or something completely different, but for me, Christmas really is just about being with the people you love.  To quote Dr. Seuss:

"And he puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas spent with those you love!

We actually got a little snow in VA...
which lasted less than a day, but still looked so pretty!

Maddy continued sleeping under the tree in our foyer
every afternoon to take advantage of the sunshine!

She will be disappointed when this tree comes down!

Ginny managed to snag some time in the sun for herself!

Love our new ornament from my mom!

Sobbing, sobbing, and more sobbing...

My New Title #promotion

I.Cannot.Handle.This.Adorable.Face.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Tails to you!

Maddy's Progress!

Yesterday was a big day because Maddy had her stitches removed!  We had an appointment first thing in the morning, and we were already in the car on our way when we received a phone call because the Leesburg office was closed due to the snow.  Luckily, the Rockville office was open and they were able to fit us in.  The neurologist was very pleased with her progress – the physical exam went very well and she watched Maddy walk around with no indication of limping or discomfort of any kind.  Yay!  She's still on restricted activity for another four weeks, but she has finished all of her medications and is looking SO GOOD!

When we learned less than a month ago that Maddy had ruptured disks and would need spinal surgery, we worried that she might not survive the surgery, or if she did, she would be left paralyzed.  Looking at her now, we realize just how lucky we are.  We are incredibly thankful for the expertise of the surgeon and the wonderful care Maddy received before and after her surgery.

If you've read my other dog-related posts over the years, you might suspect who we are most grateful for…my mom.  She has come to our house at the crack of dawn every day while we've gone to work to care for Maddy.  What started as a cute nickname – Fairy Dogmother – has proven time and time again to be the most accurate title for her!  She is THE BEST!  I absolutely attribute Maddy's outstanding progress to my mom's care.  I love my mom more than words!  Thanks, Mom, for always being there for us!!!

Day 6 after surgery

Maddy is definitely starting to resemble
Sparky from Frankenweenie...
and both are completely adorable!

Maddy got a get well card from one of her favorite humans on earth!

And also treats from our godkids!

Getting better every day!

Playing with her new toys!

This face <3

This is what she does while we're at work!

I guess she's waiting for Santa!

I bought these ears for a trip to Disneyland we had scheduled for December 8-11...
we canceled the trip when Maddy had to have surgery.
This photo is the next best thing!
She sat so patiently while I balanced them on her head!

Her last night with her stitches in!

At the vet!

Right before the stitches were removed!

Someone is excited!

Maddy happy to be done with her appointment...
and sitting on Ginny in the car!

  

Looking awesome!

So proud of this girl!

Happy Tails to you!