porter dog 1992-2007

you were the small black ball of fur and breath, that hid in the corner when i brought you home. i coaxed you to me and layed on the floor and knew that instant i had become your mother.

i was aware even then, those many years ago, my time with you would end too soon.
i gave you 10 or 12 years.
you gave me almost 15.

i knew you would fill my heart, and break it.
you endeavored never to let me out of your sight, every day of your life.
you showed me what it was like to be adored.

nervous dog, always looking worried, and happy, and excited, all wrapped up together.
your nose, long, your legs, longer. your heart enormous.

we climbed mountains, we played in the indian peaks. patient dog, fishing north boulder creek, diamond lake, blue mesa.

we covered miles. subarus were made for you.
ears flying, and eyes squinting, and watering, all the way across the front range and over the mountains. from woodland park to pinecliffe and through the desolate prairie and passing corn and cows.
remember how the cows always made you bark?

we played in sand dunes, biked at arches, moab, paws sore and raw.

road trip to maine, my sidekick, amusing everyone from here to there. keeping me safe, my big black dog, with your deep and protective bark.

you tasted the atlantic, i will never forget your face. we sailed in waters off eggemoggin reach. not a dogs best activity, but rather be by my side, water legs and all, than left behind.

you tasted the pacific in oregon on that sandy expanse of beach. you layed beneath the stars and the northern lights in this beautiful place you called home this last year of your life.

our riverhouse, heaven on earth for a large black dog with his constant red companion, brother.
and monument gulch with coyotes and chipmunks and pack rats to chase.
who could pee more, who could pee first?
drink from the river, lay in the grass.

your eyesight faded, your hearing gone, your heart never failing to show your devotion.

thank you for being my canine love affair. i am so grateful to have been your human romance.
i will miss you.

happy blogoversary

well i missed the one year mark by 4 days, but since i am the only one celebrating, who really cares? happy birthday blog!
it is pretty amazing to think we've been in alaska for a full year now. heading straight into another fall is making me feel a bit....hmmmm. cant quite pinpoint it.
there are many things to like about winter here for sure. certainly the amount of snow is fantastic. the skiing was a blast last winter and it got us out of the house often. the short, very short days and the way the light is so flat on the horizon is beautiful and i recall being enamored by it often.

life in our household has begun to take a sad turn. hopefully a quick one- as my faithful, longtime canine love affair is beginning to decline. he awoke this morning and had what appeared to be a seziure. his 15 year old, 90 pound body is beginning to fail him and we are having to help him walk outside. he is no longer eating (his all time favorite activity).
for 15 years this big, black dog has been my companion. he has seen me at my worst and at my best. he has never judged, only loved. he has been there through relationships that have come and gone, he has accompanied me on countless journies covering literally thousands of miles, from colorado to maine and back. he has tasted both the atlantic and the pacific. he has sailed, and climbed mountains with me. he has protected me, and always, always loved the sight of me walking in the door which is unwavering even now as he slowly tracks my every move.
i have known for quite some time that time with him was limited and actually, many are surprised he is still here at all. i feel like we've gotten several years of bonus time with him. but, this doesnt stop the sadness i feel anticipating the ineveitable.

fleeting summer

well the weeks have been moving on by without much of this blogging stuff. ive been covering some vacation time at work the past two weeks which didnt leave much computer time, plus these long days of summer have been keeping us fairly busy.

jeff, jade and i recently had some visitors. my cousin nanette and her daughter dawn took a whirlwind tour around alaska, stopping in for a few days.
it was great to have them here and feel the excitement of someone seeing alaska for the first time.






seems like summer is slipping right on by. there are some roses in the yard and the leaves are already turning red. the green of the canopy now has a hint of yellow in it.

we've been blueberry picking up at hatcher's pass.
these arent the low-bush maine variety i grew up with, instead the alaskan variety are high-bush and a bit more sour.
the pancakes and muffins will be pretty tasty come dark december though.
we've seen some of our seward pals who welcomed us down there for a boat ride. also we shared a picnic at a beautiful farm here in palmer with lydia and her mom. the rainy weather obviously didnt bother these two.








school starts around here on monday. if i have to do another sports physical i think i will puke. we've been slammed with them- seeing 58 patients in one day last week.
i just had my one year anniversary at the clinic.

overall life is grand!