Timehop

Each morning I receive an email from TimeHop, a free service sending daily email reminders of what you were doing 1 year ago on that day.  I've attached my twitter and Facebook accounts and love seeing and remembering where I was 1 year ago to the day.  It is a great way to reminisce, to realize how far you've come since that time, or to just have a good laugh.

Today my Timehop included details on taking my pack of 4 (Rico, Chico, Dolce and Brownie) to the Huntington Dog Beach for the first time.  What a great memory.  I had wanted to take Brownie and Dolce to the beach because I was sure they had never been before, and Rico and Chico love the beach. I wanted all of them to have a great day, to have as much fun as possible, and for all of us to be together.  At the time I found the outing to be somewhat stressful and not great for me (Brett would agree), but the dogs had the best time.

I remember feeling all I wanted was to give Dolce as many experiences as possible, well good experiences.  So when I could, I took Dolce out and tried my best to help him feel loved and like he was living the life of a spoiled little pup.

This morning after reading my Timehop email I mentioned to Brett that 1 year ago I never would have thought that a year from that point Dolce would be gone.  Brett is so good to me, he helps bring me down to Earth and reminds me when I'm being irrational.  He reminded me of how I continually said that I felt like Dolce only had a year left in his life.  Brett was/is right.  I always felt like our time together would be short, and I wanted to jam as many amazing experiences and outings as I could into the time we had.  I am so glad that we took the time to give him those experiences.  It was so worth it!  And most of all, I think I needed it.  

I am so thankful that during my life with Dolce I did a good job of being present, not all the time, but a majority of the time.  I recognized when amazing moments were happening, and with some slight fear of being thought of as doggie-obsessed and socially unacceptable, I utilized social media to document them.  So many times during my journey with Dolce I remember thinking that I was witnessing something beautiful and something that I would want as a lifelong memory.  This is where I start crying as I type.  It's amazing how we don't want to forget in the moment.  But once the moment is gone and all that is left is the memory, the memory doesn't seem to be enough.  Memories will never be tangible enough for my liking.  Reading back on my documented memories with Dolce gives me some comfort, after all, it is all I have left.

If there is any major take away from life with Dolce it is that time is fleeting and all we can do is try our best to present and mindful of the moments taking place.  Document them, photograph them, do whatever you can to preserve those moments.  At some point those moments will mean the world to you.

July 23, 2011 as posted on Facebook: Had a great afternoon with the dogs at the Huntington Dog Beach.  My bed is littered with sleeping dog bodies...perfection.

July 23, 2011 as posted on Twitter: http://twitpic.com/5up1zd