Since losing my dog, I’ve started taking walks at different times. Our usual morning walk feels too strange without his leash in my hand. The house has felt different, too. I still look down before getting out of bed. I still expect to hear those little footsteps following me into the kitchen.

A few nights ago, I opened the journal “Dear Dog, I Want to Say…”

I didn’t know where to begin, so I completed a prompt that began:

“I wish I knew…”

I wrote:

“…that you were okay. If you can, send me a little hello. Something I’ll recognize.”

Exactly four days later, I made myself go to our old park in the afternoon.

I sat on the bench where we used to stop when his legs got tired. I looked at the path, remembering how slowly we had walked during those last few weeks.

Then someone called his name.

I turned before I could think.

A woman was calling her puppy back from the grass. He had my dog’s name. Of all the names he could have had, he had his.

The puppy ran past her and stopped at my feet.

She apologized, but I told her it was okay. I bent down, and he leaned against my legs while I scratched his ears.

I managed to wait until they walked away before I cried.

I don’t know whether it was a coincidence or the little hello I had hoped for. But for the first time in days, I felt a little closer to him.

Perfectly sized chair for her snooze.

Mama’s got one ear up just in case 😉

Pug + Lab = Pugador her 12yo chinny is white

I’ve never seen him do this before, he’s a lil baby

Skye is sleepy after a fun long weekend boarding at daycare while mom, dad, and human sister were out of town. She loves her Lambie.

Pancho has sunk into the bed like he is being eaten and just doesn't care 😂

Motor powered scarf, made of the finest black silk. purrrsian if you catch my drift 😉🐈‍⬛

I think she's happier asleep