Hoppy Woo Year!

I, for one, am not sorry to see 2011 fade into the blurry past.  As a year, it got the dubious distinction of being The Absolute Worst Year Ever.  (Although, now that I think about it, our run of crappy luck started clear back in the summer of 2010.)  Digressions aside, though, I think I would rather focus on what remains now that the year is over.

First off, I honestly didn’t think I would still have Rio with me this far (4 years and 7 months) into the cancer drama.  When we were facing the amputation this past January, our oncologist told us that Rio would have probably just a few weeks to a couple of months without the surgery.  When the doctor discovered the metastasis in August, we were given a similar time frame for her survival.   We are now looking at our 11 month ampuversary — despite the mets in her spleen and her lymph nodes.  With the added “bonus” of Cushings Disease, there is an average of a two-year survival rate post-diagnosis.  With all of this, Rio continues to buck the odds, and although I can see that her health is definitely on the wane, she continues to be the happy, beautiful girl she’s always been (although a lot less energetic).

Despite the difficulties of this past year, I still feel like it has also been a gift.  I have had the time I needed to come to terms with the inevitability of life and the swiftness of it’s passing.  I have also been given the opportunity (and the urgency) to make some treasured memories with my precious girl.  Living with the clock ticking has given me the impetus to do things now rather than pretending I have all the time in the world.  I have battled my own inner demons through this experience, and although the war is not yet won, I feel as if I have made some definite inroads.  So far, I have survived this blasted rollercoaster, and despite all the times I’ve begged to be let off this ride, I’m still not quite ready for it to end.

For now, we still have today, and dammit, it’s gonna be a great day!  And if we get tomorrow, then we’ve won the lottery!  (And if we do win the lottery, color me delirious!)

HOPPY WOO YEAR!!!

Hoppy howlidaze, my Tripawds pals!

 

 

16 thoughts on “Hoppy Woo Year!

  1. Micki,
    I sit here at work (shhhh, don’t tell anyone I’m online!) with the Woo looking down on me from her Tripawd January Calendar perch.
    The time we get to spend with our cancer dogs is magic- it gives us hope when everyone says there is none to be had, and it gives us strength when it seems we would be at our weakest. We can learn so much about ourselves if we just listen!
    That being said- I hope the Woo keeps schoolin’ you for a long time to come.

    Karen and the pugapalooza

  2. Micki, as usual you know what is important and how to look at life from the big-picture viewpoint. I know you don’t feel like you have it all together (at least sometimes), but you have more wisdom than I think you take credit for.

    You are right about the roller coaster. We pee our pants when the lap bar first traps us, and then we alternate between more pee and howls of delight. And when it stops and the lap bar releases us, some of us run away and others stay for another round. You, my friend, stay. Woo is grateful that you do. Me, too.

    Shari

  3. keep capturing each and every moment with the woo. memories of the simplest things will warm your heart when you need them to. hugs to all.

    charon & spirit gayle

  4. What a great post! Our motto has definitely been Enjoy Every Day. We never know how much road is left, so every morning starts out with a belly rub. So give that beautiful girl a belly rub from us, please!

    Nancy & Butchey

  5. Woo is such a kiss-ass TWP. She inspires us and is one of our great idols.

    Happy Woo Year to you too. My wish for you is that 2012 will allow you to say “suck it!” to 2011.

    Jackie & Abby

  6. I got more spunk in 2012! That’s my new year’s resolution!
    That’s why it’s gonna be a good year! I’m gonna be a pest this year and I’m gonna be a pest to you WooBooDooDoo! So get ready!!!!!
    -MBBVP 2012

  7. Hey, I wondered about what Rio’s doing with an ass, too, but I figured “it’s a private matter.” Nothing wrong with a little ass-kissing every once in awhile. It’s what makes the treats appear!

    Love, Dakota

  8. DEAR RIO
    WE LIVE IN YAKIMA. DO YOU LIVE BY US?
    WE ARE SORRY YOU ARE SICK. BEFORE I HAD A BROTHER DOG NAMED LUKE. HE WAS GOLDEN. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND. HE HAD CANCER IN HIS TUMMY. WE KEEP HIS FAVORITE TOYS ON THE COMPUTER DESK TO REMEMBER HIM. WE ARE SORRY YOU ARE SICK. WE ARE GLAD TO MEET YOU. DO YOU WANT TO COME MEET US?
    LOVE FROM SPARKY AND MOMMY

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