Some grief cannot be put into words. Some grief can. When we lost Taz in 2005, our neighbor across the street sent over a condolences card and chocolates. She lost her dog several years before and remembered how hard it was to lose a much-loved companion. A month later our neighbor died from cancer. When Evie was born a month later, we gave her our neighbor's middle name to honor that caring, thoughtful act. There she was, just weeks from passing herself, offering comfort to a family to lost their dog.
 |
| The day Mina came home: March 2006 |
People have asked how the kids are taking Mina's passing. Anyone four years old and younger has not been affected. Fiona is in between awareness and emotion. She is sad, but not overly.
 |
| By one year of age, Mina was well-socialized with her "litter mates." (Ian, Shane, Evie: March 2007) |
The boys are "manning up" and keeping a tight reign on their emotions. No male tween here wants to be accused of being a cry baby and there is no way to change their minds. They must have read that in a book somewhere, because that is not what they were taught.
 |
| Evie (7mo) pulling up on Mina. July 2007 |
Evie has been the most affected outwardly. She spent almost as much time as I did lovingly petting Mina and remembering all sorts of things. She told me she used to pretend that Mina was her mom and she was a puppy. Considering how much time she spent in Mina's bed as a baby and toddler, I'm not surprised. Evie was with me when Mina started to go; I was able to send her into the house so she wouldn't have to be there at that moment. No child should have to watch their dog mama die.
 |
| Daniel and Mina: March 2014 |
I've taken literally tens of thousands of pictures over the last ten years. Mina with various kids was the subject of hundreds of pictures each year! I just can't choose the best or my favorite. I have gone through the pictures from 2006, 2007, and 2014. I shouldn't be surprised that she shows up in most of our around the house pictures. Just click the "dogs" subject tab on the side and you can see some of them. Mother's Day 2007 was spent at the beach. We took an impromptu family photo using the timer. One picture turned out perfectly and was framed and hung on the wall. But this one is better for today:
Mina was a member of our family and wanted to be where we were, doing whatever we were doing. She managed to squeeze her way into our lives and hearts in ways I never knew were possible. The grieving process continues...
