Annabelle's Antics: Remembering

I don't have that many photos of Annabelle and Gracie together. 

This was taken the day before Gracie left us for the RB.

It was a beautiful winters day and both girls were enjoying being outside.

9 months have passed and although I know there was no other

options,it still gives me pause that Gracie is not still here with us.

Loving and Losing

273 days....

...from the novel Goodbye for Now by Laurie Frankel

"To love is to lose. It's just that simple. Maybe not today but someday. It is the inevitable condition of humanity. Some sadness has no remedy. Some sadness you can't make better."

"But then why isn't everyone walking around miserable all the time?"

"Because ice cream still tastes good. And sunny and seventy-five is still a lovely day. And funny movies make you laugh, and work is sometimes fulfilling, and a beer with a friend is nice. And other people love you, too.  [Death] has been around since time immemorial. You've run up against it. And there's no getting around or over it. You stop and build your life right there at the base of that wall. But it's okay. That's where everyone else is too. Everyone else is either there or on their way. There is no other side, but there's plenty of space there to build a life and plenty of company. Welcome to the wall."

So I live my life right at that wall,  knowing that death is real and can't be avoided, and some days are indeed very, very good, while others are very very bad. But I do believe that those I love who have gone before me will be waiting. And the biggest reason this life can still seem bearable, and even often beautiful, is because of that hope.