Two Bags

For those of you who also know me over on Facebook, you are already aware that we lost our beloved Chocolate lab, Montana, to cancer on Friday.  She was pretty old, 12 or 13 as near as we know, and had arthritis really bad.  So we took her in to have her liver checked with an ultrasound to make sure the pain meds were not causing liver problems.

We knew there was a problem when the lab tech said let me go get the doctor to come talk to you.  Anyway, there were tumors all over her liver, in her lungs, and in her pancreas.

So, we brought her home and spent the next couple of weeks spoiling her horribly.  She went downhill very fast, losing 15 pounds in that short time.  When she was having trouble getting up and breathing hard, it was time for that final trip to the vet.

Here are the pictures I shared on Facebook:

You came to us late in your life, a well behaved lady.

With a love for tennis balls.

And a love for water and eating grass.

You took your job as Skylers buddy seriously.

You loved to help.

You didn't complain (much) when we made fun of your lack of swimming ability!

You were always ready to go for a ride to the dog park.

Towards the end it was too hard to sit up though...

We were happy to spoil you rotten.

You were a good couch-mate.

Your favorite exercise was mommy doing situps.

Goodbye my friend, I loved you a lot.

Honestly, I held it together pretty well throughout this whole time.  I knew we gave her a good life, and that it was time for her to go.  It was just the right decision, so I was good with it.

Then this morning, at the dog park, Yordi ran up to another Chocolate lab wagging his tale, then turned and walked away when he saw it wasn't her.

That chipped at the armor a bit.

Then he pooped and I went to pick it up, I reached into my pocket and pulled out two bags.  I realized I didn't need two bags anymore, and that was what pushed me over the edge.  I knelt there petting Yordi and crying with my stupid poop bags in hand.

Something as silly as two bags in hand finally caved me in.