sad walk

I didn't walk her in the mornings, my husband did.   But I wanted to take a walk through some of the streets we used to travel.  We learned a lot about our neighborhood on those walks, since we moved here 10 years ago.  That house was torn down; this one did a big renovation that took months; they have a dog; that guy yelled at us for letting Raven sniff his flowers.  It was a sad and lonely walk without her.  And most people out walking had dogs.  Luckily, I didn't run into any of the "dog people" we would run into on our walks.  We're dreading seeing them and having them ask where Raven is.  I practice saying "she's in doggie heaven" but I don't think I'll be able to say it without crying.

When I got home I scrubbed and hosed down her crate and ramp.  We're saving these items for the next dog.  I've already washed her blanket and beautiful green coat, and put away her collars as mementos.  No one else will use those.  And some items I had to throw away--old Nyla bones, chewed-up towels, scruffy tennis balls, peed-on rugs too big to clean.  And then there's her chair.  We talked about getting rid of it once she was gone--she went on it so many times, I stopped trying to clean it.  But it sits there--I'll wait for my husband to say something, since he's the one who said we should throw it out once she was gone.  I don't think he's ready to do that yet.  All of the things I've done have been when he was out of the house.

So I guess I'll have to figure out a different walking routine.  I'm thinking between 5 and 6 pm--after I finish my flute practice but before I have to start dinner.  That's when I walked her when I was working full time.  Not a long walk,  just one to tide her over til the longer after-dinner walk.  I just don't want to run into anyone.  Not yet.