So many things happen in a day.
Adventures, mishaps, good things, so-so things…
An endless assortment of feelings and moments, all packaged into 24 hours. Every day that passes gets a new name, and every second that passes, becomes a memory. Tick tick tick. That quickly, time moves on. And with time, comes decisions. Choices, if you will, on how to use that time. Some of that time is mapped out for us with work and chores. But somewhere in there, we can steal a moment to breathe and absorb precious little morsels of life, can't we?
(Listening to Mindy Gledhill as I type this)
My path has led me on a love adventure with pups.
Perhaps, not the same as human babies, but how would I know?
I have never had a human baby.
So, my only connection to that sort of love for another creature, that can not be described in its enormity, is shared with my furry kids.
(As you already know.)
But, what I want to say is that…
Living with Baby for all those years, and then losing her, has taught me so many things.
Mainly –
What true love feels like.
(and that it grows in strength, with time)
&
The importance of savoring each crumb of time, with those you love.
It's not that I didn't know that I should totally enjoy fresh air, and trees swaying, and my pups, and people I love.
But Baby passing gave me a true example of the why, in why I savor life and it's happenings, and all of my loves. Because, quite simply, you will miss them madly when they are gone.
The best gift you can give yourself, is enjoying everyone and everything you love, as much as you can.
Take it from me.
I hugged and hugged and hugged Baby. I rolled int the dirt with her. I let her sit on top of me like a baby even though she weighed 90 pounds.
And, I am so so so so so so sooooo glad that I did.
And still, it feels like I have not seen her in so long, that I yearn for one more moment with her.
BUT (another but).
There is also room for other loves.
I have also learned that…
Dirt in the house won't kill me.
And really, who cares if your house is a mess?
🙂
As long as you don't miss something good while obsessing on frivolous things.
Also, waking up 4 times a night with Miles, and being the only one outside in the cold at 4 a.m., is a memory I might look back on in the future, and wish for.
Because, I would go out at 3 a.m. in wind and snow and hail, if I could see Baby just one more time.
(I am sorry to share missing Baby. Alas, it is the reality of my life (and Mister's) and how I honestly feel)
So, when I am out there at some ridiculous time in the morning, groggy, I chuck my sleepiness into the wind, and enjoy Miles acting like a rabbit…
I even chuck some of the things I want to do, & some of the things on my chore list, right out the window too, in order to wholeheartedly savor my moments with a growing puppy…
And, when we wake Matty, and he runs out with us in the early a.m. …
I remember him as a puppy.
Running around with Baby…
And, I am glad I relished all of those past moments too.
Whilst stepping into new memories and moments everyday, that I will look upon fondly, in the future.
(Did I tell you that Matty is a 100% Mama's boy? Just don't tell him I told you that 😉
You see, what I believe it comes down to, is trying the best that you can to have no regrets.
Of course, we will have some in life.
But, it's not too late to work on having fewer.
It just isn't.
Sometimes, we think it is, but it isn't.
Because, even if there are regrets that we can't resolve, we can at least make peace with them, and let them go.
Set them free.
And move on…
Letting ourselves enjoy the good things, that we were meant to enjoy.
I don't know what the point of this post is, as I was going to share a totally different tale, but this unraveled, so I went with it.
I think the point is.
Let Love.
Enjoy little moments.
And, don't sweat the small stuff?
Yes, I think that's it.
Oh and, if you get a chance to love an animal, and really bond with them, well, take it from the gal who wasn't a pet person 10 years ago, it is astonishingly wonderful. (oh and, be patient with puppies, trust me, it gets easier, and they will eventually learn all that you try to teach)
(Miles' angelic look masks his almost constant wild side 😉
The mutual love of furry kids, is the loveliest kind of love that I have ever experienced…. (Mister Lovee is pretty fab, but I think he would agree too. The love we share with our fur babies…..Awesome)
Trust me, I should know…
I have loved a lot in my life 😉
But… those other sort of youthful boy crazy tales (of the human variety), are for the memory vaults :))
And, that's all I have to say about that.
Have a GORGEOUS weekend!
Skedaddling now….
ps: As soon as I posted this, I put on one of my fave 70's tracks, and boy oh boy, carnival rides, youth, fun! That's what it makes me think about…. What a great mood maker!
pss: Matty is not a very big dog, and I dare say, I think Miles will be bigger than him. What do you think? Matty is long, but not tall from floor to ear. Common for a red heeler. However, he makes up for it in massive toughness. And boy, is he ever tough. You should see how he acts when a car comes down our dead end street. Yikes!
Hear, hear, dearest V! You’re so right that we must savour every moment. Love these images of the adorable ones. Just back from A’dam w/ the keys to our next abode. I think this is the year Mr. Lovee knocks you out to get on a plane and you wake up in Amsterdam. 🙂 xoxox
This is the perfect post for this exact moment in my life. I was literally just writing in my journal about my regrets and wrong decisions made. I turned around and clicked on this post. Maybe I need to work on letting it go and making the most of what I do have. thanks.
~*~BRAVO~*~
Oh Vanessa!! Your puppy is already changing! He is growing so fast, I can tell by the photos!
ANd yes…Love, lOVe, LoOoOOoooOOOOOVe!!!! Sometimes I wonder how such a small heart can hold sooooooooo much love.
;-p
Well…I think that this is my most favourite posting of yours. Very deep and soul searching.
When/if you and Mr Lovee ever do have ‘little people’ of your own…I am positive you will be excellent parents, because you already have a handle on what it is all about, through your ‘little fur people’. Life IS all about savouring each moment. Each breath. And not sweating the small stuff.
I agree with you. If only we could see our loved ones one more time…Though it might make things worse…I just don’t know, but if only is still there. We have to greet each day as if it were our last….To live life to the fullest
Your furry ones look amazing. Yoou have a wonderful job, and don’t ever forget.
You and Mr.Lovee are truly amazing.
The perfect post 🙂 (the song ended right as I finished reading)
One photo brought me to tears. When I saw the sweet picture of Baby and Matty running off together, side by side, grown pup and baby pup, it made me sad knowing how much you miss those days. What a gift that you can look back and truly feel that you gave Baby your full heart and so much of your time.
Your post also brought happiness. I am so warmed to see the friendship between Miles and Matty, the cutie pics of his hands-on, BODY-on : ) interaction with his big bro. I know you must smile as you watch it.
Thank you for your reminder to strive to live a life with no regrets, to spend time with those you love whether they be human or furry.
Love and hugs and hugs and love.
Oh dearest Vanessa, I understand all you have written so well. I have no human babies, only furry babies. And I am so glad that I do. There is nothing quite like it in the world! Such unconditional love and trust. Sloppy wet kisses when you awake in the morning. Little furry blankets sidled next to you when you are cold. And ardent concern when you are sad. I love my babies and cherish all the moments I can with them. Your memories of Baby will always be with you – and your life was forever changed (for the better) for having known and loved (and be loved by her in return). Now that love is being felt by young Miles and Matty. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy such beautiful boys! xoxo Theresa
Because, I would go out at 3 a.m. in wind and snow and hail, if I could see Baby just one more time.
Oh. This caught in my throat. Because I’ve been there. We all have. Sweet, Miss Vanessa. This was sweet.
Kathy
I like Miles lying in a fetal ball on the bright rug. He looks like a shaggy little lamb. It will be sweet to look back on the big brother Matty shots when Miles eclipses him.
On your earlier post…..
CAVIAR? What a lush morning. Why can’t I live close enough for breakfast?
Hey….I love capers, too, but I don’t even have a clue what caper berries are. Are they related to dingle berries? Nastypants.
Before we got a dog, I was not a pet person. Now, I realize how loving and perfect and amazing they are, how blessed I am every time they lay on me and feel safe enough to sleep. I always thank them for the lessons they’ve taught me, and how curious their curiosity makes me.
As I type this, my small dog, Drake, is sitting on the arm of a chair watching my mother embroider. My other dog is curled up with my dad, head on his legs, his hands on her head.
Beauty.
gulp.
clap! clap! clap!clap! clap!clap!clap!
you’ve reached into my heart vanessa. there is so much i can and should say about baby and miles and matty but all i can really say is thank you for reminding me how to tuck away and find peace with regret. regret borne from love is so worth it. i’m glad you know too.
kj
I just found your blog (from Stitchin’ Heaver 🙂 ) and what a beautiful introduction to you!! This is a lovely, touching post … I have come to the conclusion that pets, dogs especially, are God’s gift of pure love to us mere humans. To them, we never have bad hair days, our jeans never make us look fat, and all they want is to be with us. I know there is controversy in some circles, but I believe dogs must go to heaven once their time here is through … thank you for a sweet introduction to your blog.
Oh sweet sweet Vanessa…..I know the grief that you are feeling all too well…..I miss my two babies that we lost this past summer too…..all of the cute, crazy, silly, irritating things they did…..I miss all of it. And I now also have a new little furry baby that is growing every day and becoming part of my heart…..something I wasn’t sure if I would be able to let happen….but how can you resist??
Wow, as I wipe my tears away, I have to say,
been there and know what it feels like too! This is life at it’s best and worst and all the in between stuff. Live for today and Love with all your heart.
Thank you for sharing Vanessa!
Awesome photos! I too Love that Mindy Gledhill <3&:) Kelly
Dear Vanessa… what a beautiful candid heartfelt Post, it brought tears to my eyes. As someone who has had beloved Babies of both varieties *human and fur babies*, I’ve come to the conclusion that LOVE is LOVE… it is no less when bestowed upon an animal as it is when it’s bestowed upon a human… and the loss is no less either when either passes from time into eternity. But Love is eternal, it transcends time and mortality… as long as the memory and Love linger, though it can be bittersweet, the essence of that which was Loved remains very much alive in our minds and Hearts. What I have found with beloved Pets is that they are loyalty often far exceeds human loyalties and therefore they spoil us in that regard… one of my Cats is over 20 years old… I know her time now is probably short… but for over 20 years now she has been my most ardent fan and companion, every day she spends time with me in an unconditional Love that I only Hope to replicate! I know it will be unusually hard when she is ready to move from time into eternity… we grieve for ourselves when a Loved one passes, whether human or animal… because they are so missed… God Bless you and I applaud you for living in the moment… Dawn… The Bohemian
PS: Dear Vanessa… I would love to know what photo editing program you use? My vision for 2011 in my Blog is to make each photo as special as possible and I adore the special effects yours often have!
Though I have been an eager reader of your charming, wonderful blog for over a year, I was silly to never have shared my thoughts with you.
This post has me doing that because it seems so so applicable to my life right now – I know, like you said, that we shouldn’t sweat the small things and savor life, but I somehow find it hard to do that at times, just like I did last night. I will take it as a sign that you posted this and it is the first thing I am reading this morning.
Also, puppies! Though my furry friend, Atom, is no longer a puppy, I can relate with your post and I do long for a puppy again when I see Miles! I think I will go out right now and play with the puppies in the park!
Thanks! Thank you so much!
Dearest Vanessa,
Thank you so much for sharing what is in your heart. You make all of our lives richer for your sharing with us. You are so right about the love you feel for animals. We will not be having human babies, but we look forward to the day when we will be able to take a little furry baby into our home and make them ours. My Dear Mr. V wants a little kittykat and I will have to have my puppy. I know our home will be chaos from that point on, but it will be so filled with love that it will not matter!
Wishing you and your beautiful family a wonderful weekend!
Betty
Ah Vanessa so many times I come here and your posts are all about something I’ve been feeling, thinking or going through. Yesterday my daughter had to have her Oliver put to sleep. He was a 14 year old friendly, slobber all over you just cause he was happy you were petting him kinda Bassett Hound. We’ve known him since he was a puppy and when my granddaughter was born he became her friend, too. Fur babies give so much love and joy. They need to be missed and remembered when they are gone.
Love all the pictures. Miles is growing so fast.
Of course, you are still missing Baby. Feel free to keep talking. I lost Chryssy three years ago (at age twenty) and still miss her, though I have two other dogs. I adore those furry friends and love seeing your babies who look so happy and full of it! They are clearly loved.
Fondly,
Suz
Golly.
This post is overflowing with goodness and wisdoms and love and happiness with a twist of sadness but smiling though the tears goodness of it all just the same ending with a carnival ride-this POST is a full day! Go girl! 😉
Everybody’s already said “it” (everything) gooder than i could, anyway, so I’ll just tell you a secret that not everyone admits:
Furry babies and baby babies are EXACTLY the same.
IF you LOVE right.
And i think you do.
~*~*~* XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXVIVIVXOXOXO~*~*~
The photo of baby and matty is pure preciousness. Its so nice to see her again. Speaking as a mummy of humans and animals, animal love is very much the same and as rewarding and frustrating too. so dont feel your missing out on the kiddie thing because the love you feel for your fur babies is the same feeling.
A beautiful post and a beautiful song too, I think Im gonna go write some things down.
thankyou for the thought provoking post.
xxx
Yes it´s true! Furry and human babies ARE the same!
I grew up as a pet mom and when I got babies of my own it was just so… the same, you know? Like I could understand what their needs were by just looking at them, the expression in their faces and eyes… like you do when you truly love your furry friends.
People around me don´t understand when I comment on some dog looking happy or another one who is old (quite obvious to see when you´re used to animals), or when I know exactly why my cat is being obnoxious. It´s always nice to see there are other like-minded humans around…
thanks for the lovely post!
Your rascals are so adorable, you are a happy girl to have this sweet darlings
Furry love is better when your “children” are 18 & 19 !!
My little dog still cuddles, looks at me adoringly, greets me with love, always comes when I call him, and best of all — no dramatic moments!
My favorite song. I thank-you for this fun, my little four year old on my lap is bobbing along to her sweet voice. Love and snuggles from your friends.
Yesterday, I was thinking, that it was only last year that you lost Baby. I kind of ‘felt’ in my soul that you were missing her…
One of those kindred spirit things, when you’re thinking of someone and know their pain, or know that a fragile part of them is still hurting from loss…Strange how that happens…
So, here’s to thinking of you, and to your new little love to play with, as he is soooo adorable, and bless Matty’s doggy heart too.
love and hugs,
Miss Teresa
I can’t believe how fast Miles is growing and that shweet shweet Matty. I love your babies.
P.S. Boston……*swoon*
Thank you for this post Vanessa, thank you, thank you.
It will be one I will reread and rethink several times, it’s funny how it’s exactly what I needed at this moment.
The pictures are beautiful, I feel like hugging your furry babies! And Miles is already growing, it’s so fast!
I had to stop reading so that i stop crying. You did wake up early for your furry kids? Me too. If i sleep with my poodle at 11pm, he will wake me up around 2am, wanting me to bring him to the toilet. If we sleep at 2am, he will wake me up at 5am. I have been losing sleep since i adopt him. Everytime when i go out without him, he cries. It has been like this for past whole year. Because of him, im not going out for any dates. i dont hang out, i dont watch movie. i dont go shopping. I stay home with him. Thank god i have an internet business and i work at home. So i get to be with him 24 hours a day.
The pictures are amazing. The article touches my heart very cute. Love it!
Oh my goodness Miles is getting big V, just in the last few weeks! I’m going to have to ask you to put Matty away when I come to visit 😉 I don’t want to me Matty food, tee hee.
I love your outlook, your words are so right. Human baby love…furry baby love, it’s all the same. Sending comforting juju your way for you missing Baby.
Hugs,
Jamie 🙂
Vanessa, your post brought tears to my eyes. I identify with you so much. The love between dogs and their family is a special love and should be enjoyed and celebrated every moment. Twyla
Oh, VanessaPie, this is all so true. I have raised and loved a dozen fluff bombs, and they have raised me–to know what’s what. It never gets easier to say goodbye to them, but knowing them increases the love every year thereafter until it crowds out the must-do and the this-isn’t-perfects, and leaves only relishing and lingering.
YUM to you, mama!!
p.s. I am going to send you a photo of my own love bomb because you grace us with so many pretties.
Really beautiful!
These photos are so lovely. I have never been able to replace my doggie who died 3 years ago now and it seems still like yesterday. I’m not sure that I could do it again. But i want to.
Furry love is the best. Of course, you would miss Baby, he was part of your family and heart for so many years.
I look at my Mabel, she’s 15 years now, I keep wishing for many more years with her. I do my best to cherish what I have now.
Regrets just weigh us down, we just have to keep living with joy in our hearts especially when the sad times come.
I remember the years I was a furbaby Mommy and then one day I had Natalie. She is 13 and still wants and needs Mommy but it’s not the same. I hate that she wants the door closed to her room. I have to knock and see if it’s ok to come in. Here dad hates that too. He thinks she’s goofing off (which of course she is doing) and I feel shut out.
Now I’m energy is focused on my furbabies again. Life is a cyle.
The other night we ate at a restaurant that just happens to be across the Vet emergency room where my Callie died. I didn’t think of it till after dinner and then I felt a pang. She has been gone since 2005 but I still feel bad about her dying, even though I have 2 kitties now.
Anyways, enjoy your time with all the loves in your life wither it’s furbabies, Mr. Lovey, your art, garden, friends and more.
I’m sitting here crying because your post moved me so much. Sometimes it’s good to cry.
What a nice post and a wonderful reminder of how to live a happy life. Moment by moment. I couldn’t agree more with your love of furry creatures. We have learned to live with a lot of pet hair in our house but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for sharing your dog stories. It is heartbreaking to loose a pet but you are right the heart is bigger than we know and there is always room in it for more.
Thank you, thank you Miss Sweetness!! You always lead me to new discoveries and I was enchanted by the video of Mindy Gledhill that you posted. I’d never heard of her before but instantly fell in love with her music, voice and style. It’s always so inspiring to learn of creative spirits such as yourself who bring beautiful little snippets of loveliness into my life. Thank you!! p.s. My Momma has a saying that she says to all her fur babies and to me! “I love you to the evers”… We say it all the time now. Isn’t it cute? I love little Miles and Mattie to the evers!!!
hello there long ago internet friend. 🙂 i am sitting here with my two little purring fuzzballs and giving them a little extra love. starting to creep back into the blog world a bit after needing to take a bit of a break… too much for one small comment, but anyway hello again and send you lots of hugs for when you need them. I’m so sorry about your pup and so happy for you that you have two such sweeties now.
Oops. Sorry. I’m still drooling over the first four shots of Miles on that delightful rug. He really does look like the Easter Bunny there. You are a Master at stage setting, and color, and swoonalicity. You should teach a Master’s Class in Magic. Yes please and thank you.
**kisskiss** Deb
To love completely and deeply…that is a gift…and is good that your treasure it! Nurture it!!
Miles acting like a bunny made me laugh! What a hear pup he is!
And Matty is being such a good little brother! No matter how big Miles gets…he will always look up to Matty!!!
Hugging you
SueAnn