Summer 2021

The end of August always signifies the end of summer for me, even though fall doesn’t officially begin until September 22.

Normally, I’m happy because I dislike hot weather and by the end of August, I’m so over it!

This year, though, feels different. I’m still ready for the hot weather to be gone, but this was such a great summer. Being able to travel around the country for an entire month was amazing, spending a week at WDW with my mom was such a gift, and it goes without saying that every day we have with Ginny is priceless! It was SUCH a good summer.

As I bid a fond farewell to Summer 2021, I’ll continue to revisit the fabulous memories from the past three months! Here's just a few of my favorites:

Happy Tails to you!

National Grief Awareness Day

Today is National Grief Awareness Day and I've been thinking a lot about grief lately.

There are countless reasons people experience grief. Some of these include:

• things that have happened
• things that haven't happened
• things that you know are going to happen
• unrealized dreams
• people we've lost
• animals we've said goodbye to
• illnesses we're living with
• lost opportunities
• difficult choices
• physical, mental, and emotional challenges
• world events / natural disasters / current affairs

To be honest, the list goes on and on, because what constitutes a source of grief is so intimately personal to different individuals.

When I'm grieving, I don't want anyone telling me "things happen for a reason" or "they're in a better place" or "time heals all wounds." None of these messages are helpful and none of them ease my heartache. What I need is to be allowed to grieve freely, without judgment, even if others don't understand what I'm grieving about.

We said goodbye to seven little dogs in a span of less than nine-and-a-half years. The pain that comes with each of those losses is unbearable to me. If you're not a dog person or an animal lover, maybe you can't understand. That's ok. What's not ok is saying something along the lines of "no more paying for expensive surgeries," which is something someone actually said to me after Maddy passed away. Maybe they were uncomfortable with my despair. Maybe they were tired of me talking about her or writing about her. Maybe they were trying to find a silver lining. Doesn't matter. It was one of the most insensitive things I've ever had said to me. I will not forget those words. Ever. So if you don't know what to say, it's better to just say nothing at all.

You know the saying about being kind because everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about? That's certainly good everyday advice, but it's particularly important when someone is grieving. Even if you've suffered a similar loss, you cannot truly understand what a person is going through, so just be kind. Offer a shoulder to cry on. Hold their hand. Hug them. Let them know they are not alone without making it about you and your own experience. Allow them to grieve in their way, in their time. Just be there, especially weeks and months and years later when they need you - long after most people think they should have "gotten over it."

I will never "get over" the losses I've suffered. I don't know how anyone could. You just learn to live with those losses. They become a part of you and part of your story. I honor the death anniversaries of each of our dogs because those were monumental days in my life and remembering the happy memories we created together makes the grief a little less awful. They live on through those memories. We said goodbye to Molly in November 2010 - almost eleven years ago - and I still have her picture up on the bulletin board in my office. When I was decorating last week, those seven dog photos were the first ones I put up. They added such joy and love to my life; why on earth would I not have their photos up where I can see them every day?

Grief is such an uncomfortable topic for most people and I don't know why. Suffering loss is part of the human experience and if we could all just be kind and supportive to each other when we're dealing with loss, the world would be a much better place.

"What do you get from loss?

You get the awareness of other people's loss...

which allows you to love more deeply and to understand

what it's like to be a human being."

- Stephen Colbert -

To anyone reading this, if you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to hold your hand or a hug, I'm happy to be that person for you.

And to all of you who have been that person for me, I will always remember your kindness in some of my darkest moments.

Happy Tails to you...

Volunteering for Animals!

I recently became a board member of a local SPCA group and I attended my first board meeting this weekend! I'm super excited to get to work with this awesome group of volunteers who are so passionate about improving the lives of the animals in our community! We have some fun weekend events planned over the next several months and I'm looking forward to helping homeless animals find families to love and cherish them!

Happy Tails to you!

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2021

This is a day is dedicated to honoring those animal friends we've said goodbye to and C and I miss these seven little gals every single day. We remember the lunacy of meal times, having no space on the couch or in our king-size bed, and the unbelievable levels of barking whenever the doorbell rang or one of them heard a random noise outside. Those were crazy, but very happy times!

Our house is a very quiet place now, as Ginny is a senior and has really slowed down over the past year, but I know she misses her sisters as much as we do. Today, and every day, we are forever grateful for the love we shared and the memories we made together!

Happy Tails to you!

As Done As It's Going To Be

I finally finished my office and it now feels like a happy space! While it's a pared down version of my previous office, I did the best I could with the limited space. I'll have to move out some time in the spring because of the building renovation, so hopefully it will be easy to pack up!

before

Happy Tails to you!

National Dog Day 2021

It's National Dog Day!

"You do not own a dog.

You have a dog.

And the dog has you."

- Chelsea Handler -

There’s not much I can say about Ginny that I haven’t said before…I love her more than words and I’m so lucky to have her my life! She makes bad days better and good days great and while she is far from the most affectionate dog, she tolerates me smothering her with love.

She's moving a little slower these days, she's sleeping a little more deeply, and there's a little more frosting on her face, but she still loves car rides and will do just about anything for cheese!

she was watching
Brooklyn 99 with me
and we both love
Captain Holt

Happy Tails to you!