The truth of the matter is I knew when I made the decision to take Annie up the hill at the cottage on September 3rd, she would never come back down.
I suppose that’s why I took the photos I am sharing above. My 'spidey sense' told me the summer of 2024 would be her last hurrah at Orillia Lake.
Not able to do the stairs, you can see from the one the left that she was exhausted taking the ATV trail. You can spy Miya in the top corner, rubbernecking, wondering why she wasn't leading.
On the right, you can see the saliva accumulation I’ve mentioned previously. That said, I was grateful to snap the Oreo Gang in their familiar formation one last time. My girl was struggling to hold her head and tail high. I knew when I took the picture that our journey as a pack was definitely shifting.
Her decline was reminiscent of what our Dottie went through, so I felt I understood what was on our horizon. I
guess my shock and grief are compounded immensely because I had no clue, she
would be dead 48 hours later.
Well, today would have been her birthday. As a tribute to her, I updated my cover photo on social media. It hadn’t previously changed in more than two years.
Gone is the tribute of Puddin’ jumping off the dock (posted the day she passed in June 2022).
Posted now, is the photo below that I a took of the Oreo Gang almost a year ago. I suspect it will remain in place for a very long time.
...Because it simply warms my whole heart.
Happy Birthday my Annie. Your Mama sure misses you xo
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| A great picture of the Oreo Gang in formation, watching the squirrels. TAKEN: NOVEMBER 19th, 2023 |
