My dog is my baby. He’s been by my side since he was eight months old and since I graduated with my first college diploma as an LPN. We hung out before that too. I was renting a room from his first owner. She saw us playing together. She saw him hop in my car when I’d leave for work. When I told her I was moving out to rent my own place, she asked if I wanted to take him along. I think even she knew the two of us were meant to be together. I had never owned a dog before, but if I still had that landlady’s contact information, I’d call her to thank her for giving me one of the best things in my life.
Willie is a black lab mutt mixed with who knows what. I could guess, but it doesn’t really matter. One day at work I made the mistake of googling what the average lifespan of a labrador is. Shockingly, Willie had already surpassed it. I was distraught. I was appalled. I was mad at myself for doing what I, as a nurse, am regularly telling folks not to do. One of my co-workers, who is also a fur mama, noticed my change in emotions. After hearing what I’d done, and appropriately scolding me for doing so, she recommended I make Willie a bucket list for his final time on this earth.
Immediately I got to work on planning. I mapped out the bucket list in the same way I had my travel challenge, choosing to do one planned thing with him each month that was new and outside of our normal activities/lives. I am happy to report that with the help and support of our loved ones, Willie accomplished all 12 months’ worth of items on his list. Willie’s bucket list showed me that I have some amazing people in my life that will support me and my goals, no matter how silly or ridiculous they sometimes seem. It also reminded me of how much joy having Willie in my life has brought me and how much he has taught me over the past 14 years. I am forever grateful to my co-worker and friend for sparking this idea that brought me unforgettable memories with my pup, and I thank God for each day he is still here kickin’ it with me.
Stay tuned to hear more about Willie’s 12 activities…
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