It’s an odd thing to be both hopeful and practical. We will lose this battle eventually. We will, and I accept that. It could be next week. It could be next year. We simply don’t know. Yesterday marked 600 days since the ill-fated rabies vaccine. In February, I would have said getting this far was impossible.
Here is a list of things I’ll miss most when Lilly is gone.
***
What I’ll Miss Most
- What it’s like to have a canine soulmate / heart dog
- That face
- Her constant presence at my side
- How doggone funny she is
- The connection forged from so many years and so many struggles
- Howling together
- Hanging out in the shade on Silly Lilly Saturdays
- Having Lilly in her crate right behind me in the car
- The way she barks — in general or at Ginko — anytime Tom hugs me
- Listening to Tom talk sweetly to her (when he doesn’t know I’m listening)
- How warm she is
- How she smells
- Her white feet
- The pink part of her chin
- Our poking little walks to the bridge or the gate and back
- The way she drinks out of the outdoor fountain, even if I give her a fresh water bowl
- Feeling her coat against my bare legs in summer
- Feeling her chin snuggle with my slippered feet in winter
- Being able to go Um, Um, Um, Um, M’wah! on her cheeks
- Singing all the silly songs I made up about and for her
- Being belly to belly on the sofa
Other posts in this series:
Im so sorry to here about your furbaby. l have 4 bordercollie’s and i love them they are some of the sweetiest dogs you could ever have. good luck with her. She has a great person to love and care for her. she is beautiful and will always be with you.
I’m so sorry to hear your pup is not well. I just found your site but plan to read more about her struggle and what the implications with the vaccine was. I can identify with so many of your your “misses”.
Dogs are such an important part of our lives. I hope your Lilly is around and has a good quality of life for many many more days!
Dee
http://www.furbuddyboutique.com
Lilly is such a special girl.
It will break your heart when she has to leave this earth.
I know you will miss all those lovely things about her,
but be positive and change the title to all the things I love about Lilly.
It’s a beautiful thing to cherish these things… because you’re experiencing them right now… and being in the here and now with someone you love is the best! Hugs to both you and Lilly… and each moment you share… and those you graciously share with us…
These are of course, beautiful. I thought of similar things when we were losing Molly and now that we have, we think of more. There isn’t hardly a day that goes by that we don’t think of something Molly would have done. For example, she loved to catch and eat grasshoppers (I know!) and now that our summer is waning and hot the grasshoppers are all over. My husband said the other day, “Remember how she used to…..” Well, at least the grasshoppers are safe from her this year. 🙂 It’s those memories too, that warm our heart now.
I’m sorry you are thinking about how things will be when Lilly is gone. Not that it compares with all you’ve gone through, but with two seniors in my household, I have similar thoughts as of late. But I try not to focus on it too much and instead I am trying to enjoy the time I have left with them. It’s hard sometimes not to think about what lies ahead, but I hope you can find the strength to live in the moment.
What a great list! It’s a list of LOVE! And delight in your girl. I am definitely going to make a list of things I absolutely love about Jasper. And I miss him while I’m away, here in Ireland. But your Lilly List made me miss him more. Blessings to you all.
Roxanne,
I loved reading your post on what you will miss about Lilly. You have such common sense knowing that you will lose her one day. Your previous post to this on what you will not miss – those things you will not even think about when Lilly is gone. It will be what is listed above that will come to mind. How wonderful to have that long a list of the beautiful things you and Lilly have experienced with each other – truly a blessing.
Thanks, Debra. I’ve loved all my dogs, of course. There is, however, something very special about Lilly. She is currently sacked out and snoring loudly. Cracks me up.
On a positive note I would rather read the most things I like about Lilly. “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday”
Excellent point. That is another way to spin this list. These are my FAV things about Lilly. I really do love how she smells. I adore the tiny spot of pink on her chin, etc.
It sounds to me like you are making the most of and enjoying every moment you have with her….that is a wonderful thing. I hope she will still be with you for a long time to come….it is amazing how far she has come.