This may be a little pretentious of me but I want to dedicate this post to someone. I know this isn’t a book. But it’s my blog so I’ll do what I want. I want to dedicate this post to my sister Keri who had one of the hardest Christmases ever. On Christmas Eve, we had to put down her chocolate lab. Elvis was a member of the family for almost 12 years so it was hard for all of us to say goodbye. But it hit my sister the hardest as Elvis was her dog. Her baby. She was a mommy to Elvis way before my nephews came along. So this post is for her and all the tears she shed this past week.
And there were a lot of tears. I cried a lot on Christmas Eve. It was probably the saddest I had been the whole year. Watching Elvis be put down was the hardest thing I had to do the entire year of 2017.
All the tears got me thinking about all the times I cried this year. I cried A LOT. I am a crier. I cry when I’m happy. I cry when I’m sad. I cry when I’m angry. I cry at all those ridiculous car commercials that show the timeline of a baby turning into a teenager getting her parent’s car. (It’s capitalism and all marketing but they are tugging at my heartstrings!)
Elvis was the saddest moment of 2017. But while I was reflecting on the events of Christmas Eve, I started thinking about the best moments of 2017. My trip to Europe was the best part of my year, particularly the visit to Switzerland. This June, I went to Switzerland, Germany and England. Switzerland was by far the best part and the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. I went to the Alps of Switzerland and went to the top of a glacier for viewing. I was nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. The highest I’ve ever been. It’s sounds corny but when I stepped out to see the view it literally took my breath away. I felt like I was on top of the world. The view and wonder of it brought tears to my eyes.
Life is filled with ups and downs. It’s always going to be. Your life has to be filled with ups and downs if you want to really experience life. I cried so much over the death of Elvis because I allowed myself to love and feel. I also took a chance this year and booked a two-week vacation to visit places I’ve never been before. Life is about experiences and relationships. Sometimes the experiences and relationships will hurt you. Sometimes they will make you cry happy tears and sometimes it will be sad tears. But whether those tears are from joy or pain, they’re important.
I cried a ton of tears in 2017 and I plan to continue the tears onto 2018. Cause a year without any ups and downs hasn’t really been lived.
Let’s end this by giving a proper farewell to the craziest yet most lovable dog to have ever lived.
Am I Thirty Yet 
I’m so sorry for you and Keri (and the rest of the family who loved Elvis). We’ve had to put down several elderly pets over the years and I always cry. The first time I had to do it alone I was literally on the floor stroking him when the vet did the deed. I stayed with him on the floor and wept like I’d lost my best friend…I had. Time helps, but it’s never easy saying goodbye.
Thank you for your kind comment. It’s gotten a little easier everyday. But saying goodbye to a pet is so hard.
I am so sorry for the loss in your family! 💗
Thank you.
Oh I’m sorry. Goodbye Elvis, you look like the best of dogs! I’m so sorry that is so heartbreaking. I hope you can soon think of him and remember the great bits rather than the awful sadness that their leaving brings…
Thank you! Elvis really was one of the best. You couldn’t help but fall in love with him.
I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my cat this year. He was just 4 months old and yet I cried a lot. I can’t imagine the pain of losing someone you spent 12 years with. Hope you and your sister find solace in his memories. *hugs
And life without ups and downs is meaningless, because a straight line even in an ECG means we are dead. We have to face adversities, only then we can value life more.
I am sorry for your loss. Doesn’t matter how long or short you spend with a pet, it’s never easy to say goodbye. And I love the ending of your comment. What a wonderful way to look at life.
Dogs are perhaps the best, kindest, most loving creatures on the planet, and I’m so sorry to hear you and your sister have had to say goodbye to yours x
Dogs really are the best. Thanks so much for your comment.
Aw I’m so sorry for you and your sister. Losing a pet is one of the hardest things. They become a part of your family and truly are, in a lot of instances, your best friends. The unconditional love and joy they bring is something that really is indescribable. But I love your perspective. Life’s downs really make you appreciate they ups and make them all the greater.
Thanks so much for your comment. Pets are such a gift but can be so hard. You bring this awesome little creature into your home knowing that one day (not too far away) you’ll have to say goodbye.
I’m just catching up on your blog right now and this post made me tear up. I’m so sorry for yours and your sister’s loss; losing a dog is one of the hardest things in the world. 😦 They really are family, and I can’t imagine how awful that must have been during Christmastime. I will say a prayer for y’all, and I know your sweet lab is telling all the other pups in doggie heaven about how wonderful his humans are. ❤
Thank you so much for your comment. It made me want to cry. Elvis was a wonderful dog and he’ll always be missed but he’s definitely in a better place now.
He’s definitely feeling a lot better now, and is acting like the puppy version of himself again. 💕 I really do believe in doggie heaven!