After a great day at school, an exciting first day of the Slice of Life Challenge, and a quick and uneventful drive home, tears welled in my eyes. I had just opened the mail to this:
Fiona’s license renewal.
You think your heart has had enough time to heal and then this arrives in the mail and the wound in your heart opens again.
Fiona went to the Rainbow Bridge on November 10, 2015 – two and a half years ago. She was a sickly girl with chronic ear infections and skin issues, but she left a huge hole in my heart when she left.
Tomorrow I will write something happy or funny. Today, I will just remember my lovely girl.
booksandbassets 
Bless you and Fiona, it gets better, but not much. Bill and Lilly Dawn and Janie Anne and Siobhan (Both in Heaven) ________________________________
Oh she sounded like a faithful companion. But aren’t they always? Your heart will heal, but not completely. I know mine hasn’t from 2nd grade when I experienced a loss like this.
Pets, especially dogs, have a way of making you feel like you are the center of the universe. They offer a love so unconditional, the thought of you being imperfect never crosses their minds. It is a love not many humans can often muster, and in turn leaves unfillable holes when they leave. In reading your post I am reminded how amazing this genre of blogging, and digital writing for that matter, is. That the pictures you include in just the right place speak volumes to your grief in ways words sometimes can’t, and draws even closer that bond between reader and writer. Thank you so much for this post!
It is so difficult. Our pets are our family and touch us in such personal, perfect ways. Remember the good times.
Pets bring us such joy and when they leave us there is an empty hole in our hearts. Thoughts are with you on this sad day.
You remind us all that sometimes we HAVE to write about sad things. So sorry for your loss. My students are finishing up their TCRWP Social Issues Book Club Unit. I created this padlet as an example of a Social Issue resource that might be . helpful for someone dealing with Loss/Grief. I’m going to add your slice to it since the kids “know” you as our SIbert Committee expert winner. And maybe the links can help you.
I’m sorry that my first inclination was supplanted by a much baser reaction: Those EARS! Okay, now I can go back to the first comment: I’m sorry you had that wound reopened. There is no formal “closing of the book” on grief. It returns as long as we have a memory. Yesterday Katie Wood Ray shared this article on Twitter. It’s so beautifully written. If you haven’t already read it, you might appreciate, as a dog person…or just someone who appreciates good words. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/opinion/loving-old-dogs.html
I had not read that article and thank you for sharing it!
She did have great ears. She once won a “longest ears” contest!
These pets that leave us do leave a huge hole in our hearts. What a pretty girl she was!
I think I’ve told you that I too had a Basset Hound. They are the sweetest animals ever. Have you read my posts, “No Tears for Pogo?”
Yes. I remember that. I just went back and read “No Tears for Pogo”. Grief is an unpredictable thing.
What a lovely dog! It really is the loss of a family member. Not sure why (some) people don’t give losing a pet the weight it deserves.
Losing a pet is such a hard experience. Take time today to cherish the wonderful memories you have with Fiona, it seems like she brought a lot of joy and laughter into your life!
Sorry for your loss, Adrienne, and sad-angry when the mechanics of bureaucracy scrape thoughtlessly against an old wound..
She was beautiful. It’s those unexpected reminders that come out of the blue that squeeze our hearts.