I will always remember

Melancholy. That's my mood today. I woke up this morning and softly thought, today's the day. The day I've been dreading, such a sad anniversary. It's now been a full year since we had to say goodbye to our sweet Terra. It was last November 28th, a Friday, when we learned that Terra had inoperable, untreatable, advanced cancer -- something she hid completely and so well -- and we had to do the right thing for her. Within hours she had deteriorated rapidly. It was heartbreaking. It was so hard.

Not long ago I read somewhere online, possibly on somebody's blog, that jewish people believe it takes a full year to grieve, that you must pass through all the seasons while mourning. I have no idea if this is really a jewish belief, but it makes sense to me. Grieving is a slow, painful process that everyone experiences differently. You never really get over the loss, but with time, with the changing of the seasons, you do eventually make peace and learn to function in this new world, the one where somebody special is missing. And now I've had a full year and yes, I am at peace. I still miss her though. Of course.

The above photograph is quite possibly the first one I ever captured of Terra, not long after she came into our home. What an adorable pup she was! I so wish she was still here, how she would have had such fun playing with Tippi. They would have been best friends, I know. But our pets live forever only in our hearts; their time with us physically is limited. You accept that reality the moment you let a furry one into your life, your heart -- but you cannot dwell on it. They become family members and you make their lives as wonderful as you possibly can. But they in turn make your life much more wonderful. I think that no matter how much you love them, I suspect they love you more.