One Last Day….

When you bring that little puppy home you fall in love. You make it through the first maybe sleepless nights, the first weeks of less-than-perfect potty training, the following weeks of instruction. Sit. Stay. Come.

The years follow and you take your four-footed Love for walks, you cuddle, you serve basically the same meal day after day, you provide the occasional treat.

You leave the house….perhaps for ten minutes, maybe for six hours…..no matter…..there is your dog, long or short tail wagging, SO happy to hear you open the door and say “I’m home!”

You love every human member of your family….and many of your close friends. But for me, and my family, there is just something about a dog’s adoration that just can’t be replaced.

My daughter texted me yesterday…..she and her husband and sons had made the impossibly sad decision that they would be taking their 14 year old beloved yellow lab to the vet today…..for the last time. We couldn’t share a phone conversation because we were both just crying.

It is now 4:30 pm as I glance at my watch. I texted Meg earlier today that my heart would be right next to hers all day…….goodbye sweet, sweet Sadie. We loved you……and we will miss you so.   

 

Not Much.....

6:30 morning walk for Fenway. Out the door on the Downer side of the building (east side). It's not much, but considering I noticed the patch of daffodils yesterday I was not super happy to notice the small flakes of SNOW this morning.

It will be gone within hours....but still....spring in Wisconsin....maybe one week????

His Changing Room....

We drove to our daughter and son-in-law's last night for dinner and an overnight.....a very nice, relaxed visit. Grandson #4 was down in Chicago.....so it was we four adults just talking and reminiscing.

I slept in Grandson #3's bedroom and as I woke this morning I looked around the room and noticed the "history". He moved into this house when he was about five or six and in one corner was a small pile of very old stuffed animals....right next to a boogie board.

On one corner of the desk was a tank full of water and two very special newts....they have been part of his room for a long time! I wonder how long they live? They seemed to swim over to look at me because while Grandson #4 is off at college his room is usually pretty quiet and I was a novelty.

I noticed a whole bulletin board full of medals and a shelf of trophies from tae kwon do competitions and the bird photo Dave took for him. Then there was his high school diploma. And then my eyes moved to his window to see the banners for Ohio State University hanging above the bed.

   

         

                                

I will have to admit that my eyes misted over for a moment....where does the time go? I can "see" every one of these stages in this young man's life....the kindergartener who still loved to mess with Legos and Play Doh and thought Dave and I were just so "funny".  And now the college sophomore who is off charting his own course through life.

There was love in that bedroom.....and I wrapped myself in it for just a little while.....

  

Don''t Be Fooled....

So yesterday was about 82 degrees here in Milwaukee and sunny....strong breeze, but still a lovely day. Nice enough to go out about 11:00 a.m. and walk the six blocks to the library and back. Result? My first sunburn....ooops, forgot sunscreen.

Today I took Fen for his early (too early) morning walk and noticed the nice crop of daffodils just outside the Downer Avenue exit from our building.  A sure sign that Milwaukee spring is HERE!

But don't get all excited....mixed rain/sleet/snow in the forecast for Sunday morning. Spring in the Midwest....a bit fickle and usually lasts about three days.

Sigh.....remembering the six weeks of true spring when we lived in New Jersey and Delaware!