April

Let's see, I have a few faithful readers who continue to check up on me (one possibly not for friendly reasons but you never know), so I guess I will write a new post. Several things happened this month, obviously losing Shayna was very, very sad. I don't know when or if I will ever have another dog, especially a pug- for many reasons. I don't think I have the heart to go to pug crawl next month to sell my shirts or cards as planned. Even though last year it did really well, I'm not in the mood to see literally hundreds of pugs. This has made me want to move ahead with a special idea for Shayna's memory.

A lot of blasts from the past lately. This summer is my 20th high school reunion ( I know! can you believe it?). Suddenly, I heard from my best girl friend from those years which was great! (hi J!) I had mentioned also seeing my estranged college travel friend in Portland. Then, the oddest thing happened last week. I went to a photography show in Portland, the photographer was someone I met at a Seattle friend's wedding years ago and invited me. I went by myself since I couldn't get anyone else to come short notice. It was in a residential neighborhood and only about 10 people were there. I looked around for awhile and left in the dark (it was about 10pm). I was crossing the street and out of the corner of my eye I saw a couple locking up bikes and didn't think much about it. Then I heard my name called. I was shocked to see another friend from high school-- D*linda! She looked and sounded the same, and I can't believe how random it was and how she could even see me let alone recognize me. We talked and briefly caught up. Hopefully I will hear from her- so funny to think she has been living in PDX the same time and we never crossed paths before. I wouldn't have even known she was living here except I was told about a week or so prior from a mutual friend.

The next day I left for the Tri Cities. And I was going to call you J, but I knew you were just back from Hawaii and it was an ultra quick trip. I wanted to see my dad since he was pretty sad about Shayna. He is living there part time and I had not been there for so long, probably 10 years. Anyway, it is a pretty drive from Portland and I took my favorite boy for company. He is a great companion except he insists on listening to Dinasours music non-stop for hours.

That place has changed so much, I didn't really recognize a lot of it. My dad is living out by 68th street exit. That stuff is all new. I don't mean to be negative, but I felt really strange that I practically grew up there and I look at it with such different eyes now. It really suffers in comparison to the other places I've lived since then. It seems to draw a lot of people back to it to live, which I really don't understand. We did drive around and do a memory tour. And saw some very good friends who live on the river and that was very nice. There are some great people who live there, and that is the only reason I will ever go back. My good memories are about the people anyway, not the place. Which is good since seeing the old high school and surrounding area just depressed me. I felt relief wash over me on the drive home as the landscape changed from desert back into familiar pine trees.

That's a long enough post for now- more later...

Shayna, we love you always

Today started out great- beautiful warm sunny day, work prospects looking great.
Then we got a strange call from a friend of my parents in the Tri Cities, "the little dog went to the hospital and didn't come back". My husband answered it and was confused since the call was supposed to be for my dad. My stomach lurched and I immediately called my parents to see if Shayna was sick. Shayna died. They don't know why, she acted sick, went to the vet and died there.

I can't believe she is gone. Just like that. It really makes you realize, that is how fast you can lose someone. She was such a big part of our family- always there. I've lost my two favorite pets within 6 months.
I know she had a good life, but it was much too short. She would have turned 7 next month. I just don't know what to say. She is the reason I started saybone. The last few years I've spent less time with her because of the kids, she always loved me the same regardless. Last week C pushed her in the stroller to the park. It was Shayna's idea to ride in the stroller, she preferred it. It was so cute but I didn't get a photo, I thought I'd have a chance to do it later.

I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her but she brought me so much joy.