Friends

Nope, this isn't about the TV show. It's about growing old. A friend emailed me earlier this week about losing friends and "family." We are of the age when loss happens all the more frequently.

I hold onto every moment these days.

Murphy's day.

Sometimes in the Morning

Sometimes in the morning I come downstairs and think I "feel" Murphy. It's been over a year and there still isn't a day I do not think of her and miss her.

Annie is most like Murphy, even though Murphy "raised" Sage. This "hell-bent" exuberance that Annie has is exactly like Murphy. That glint in her eye, as if to say: "Mom, life is short, I have absolutely got to try this, at least once..." It's Murphy.

But the steady, stoic Sage...I enjoy that "solidness." I don't have to worry....

Life does go on. But Murphy, Murphy finds ways of reminding me she is still here.

Murphy's day.

Olympic Tragedy

Higher, faster, stronger....the death of the luger on Friday is a tragedy. The Olympics are about grace, strength, performance. But not a death.

Murphy's day.

Crazy Girl

One point this weekend I looked at Annie and realized she really is crazy. Her ears were totally kattywampus, her mouth had this odd expression, and she was leaping, big air-like, toward absolutely nothing.

Crazy girl.

Murphy's day.

Oh, Canada!

Tonight, the 2010 Olympics hold their opening ceremony. Vancouver is just up the road. I'm not going. However, I have been to an Olympic Game (in LA in 1984) and highly recommend going. It's one of those great experiences.

While all those fantastic athletes will be spinning, sliding, leaping, skiing, I'll be working with Annie to make sure she continues to get "big air." We're aiming for one of those snowboarding half-pipe things...

Murphy's day.

I Hold My Breath

Sometimes with Sage I hold my breath. The success rate for ACL surgery is somewhere around 50%. In other words, either the knee blows out again, or the other knee does. It's been about a year and a half. She is running, leaping, and seems happy. I have radically cut back on the Rimadyl.

I hold my breath.

Murphy's day.

Sage at Six

It really is hard for me to think that Sage is six. She still has a lot of lab puppy in her, but six. Phew.

She is going through a new phase right now. A little fussy about her food, rejecting what used to be her favorite chew treat (which I have two more bags from Costco sitting in my pantry, thank goodness Annie isn't picky!), and growling just a tish more at anyone who gets near my car. I think the winter doldrums have settled in. Not enough snow to be excited, not warm enough to stay outside...do dogs get bored?

Murphy's day.