Summertime and It's Hot in the City..

(Warning: Includes Some Real Tears)

Current mood: awake

It's hawwttt. 100's all week. Can I say I am really ready for our

summer vacation? Emotionally, physically and mentally. I am there.

End of fiscal year has been strange. Because of where our summer trip

is scheduled, it's emotionally like having a dual personality. I'm

wrapping up the numbers for the past business year and starting to

prep for the trip. Slowing down and hurrying up, all at the same

time!!! With that said, at the close on any year (fiscal, calendar,

whatever), we tend to reflect on the journey through the previous 12

months and where it has led us.

Last year at this time, things were going well. We were probably

exploring parts of Yosemite's hiking trails and Valley Floor right

about now.

As 2008 started, things appeared good on the surface at least. Little

did we know that my father-in-law's lungs weren't doing so well. Two

years and many hospital trips/stays later, Greg's father passed and

then we had another loss. Abruptly, our little angel lost her fight

with stomach cancer.

I am a bit melancholy noticing her tribute page is up now. Lovebug,

LB, Ellbee etc. Her online memorial, (rest in peace my sweet girl) is

up at the boxer rescue site if you wish to visit. Saddens me to find

this. But happy to know they have kept her under 'happy endings' too.

Cause she was a joy and a graceful girl from beginning to literally

the end.

For now, we'll truck on into the new fiscal year knowing that someone

special is missing in our vacation plans and our hearts. But keeping

it in the backs of minds, as we know both of them are with us in

spirit, eternally.

We'll be making a return to the rescue at some point when we are ready

(but remembering those are big paw prints to fill) and finding a

remembrance spot for Doug later this calendar year.

Auld lang singe...