It's been a week and a half since we had to let our sweet Lana go. It still feels a bit unreal, which is of course not surprising. A week and a half sometimes feels like an eternity, but at the same time, it is still so short. Fortunately, I can say that I slowly but surely see Myla and Skipper becoming their old selves again. And seeing that makes me feel good. It gives me at least a smile every day, but especially in the last few days, they make me laugh every day when the two of them are busy. It is a bright spot in a dark time.
Myla is completely revived
Myla, my older lady who will turn 15 next month, surprises me daily. Despite her age, she seems to be completely revived. Maybe it has to do with the fact that Lana always demanded all the attention, and Myla is naturally more modest. Or maybe it's just the approaching spring that gets her energy flowing again? After all, animals are much closer to nature than we humans are. I don't know what it is that makes her so lively again, but it's great to see her like this again, with her playful moods. And I was even more surprised when I heard her do something again that I hadn't heard since about 2013. Before we moved in together, Myla always barked when she wanted to have a conversation. She barked, I answered her and then she barked again, and then made a playful bow in an invitation to play with her. The play bow is a little less easy for her now, but her characteristic bark is back. And she hasn't done that since 2013. It completely surprised me and warmed my heart. Myla with her daily chat. She seems to have regained her youthful spirit, and I can only say that I enjoy this newfound vibrancy in my little old friend.
Skipper is on a discovery journey
And then we have Skipper, our youngest dog with a mind of his own. He seems to have to get used to the fact that Lana is no longer there. I notice more of a difference in him in small things and big things. It is especially noticeable during postman visits. Previously, he always barked enthusiastically when Lana started, but now he sometimes seems to doubt whether it is still necessary without her. Although I must admit that I find it a relief to have fewer barking concerts. I do hope for Skipper that he can quickly find his balance between his old habits and his new reality. Of course, I help him as much as I can, and he also clearly requires more attention. He also tries out what is possible and what is not. Playing indoors? Lana had a clear preference for this, she often snapped when Skipper wanted to play inside. And that caused Skipper to have a certain reluctance, even though we certainly played with him. Of course, there is no one to snap at him, and he is now discovering that. He is still cautious, but discovering where the boundaries lie.
Those daily little things
The loss of Lana, and the adjustment to the new situation, is a process of adjustment for all of us. Of course, it is still fresh. I still notice it every day. It still feels strange that I now only have two dogs in the house instead of three. No Lana follows me when I grab their bowls. I kept catching myself automatically grabbing three bowls for their kibbles, so I now moved the third bowl from its usual place. The same goes for her dog leash and collar. It's those little things that kept reminding me that Lana is gone. Even without those little things, I know this all too well, but those little daily things confronted me very hard with the new reality every time. To break that up a bit, we had Lana tidy up her things.
Flowers as a tribute to Lana
Fortunately, it is not all misery of course. There are also beautiful moments of comfort. We received a card from our vet as a token of sympathy. And not just any card, but a flower card made from recycled paper with wildflower seeds in it. It is a wonderful idea that these flowers will hopefully bloom soon. I think that is a very nice tribute to Lana. I planted the card in a beautiful flower box. Hopefully, the flowers will bloom beautifully so that when we sit outside in the warm sun with Myla and Skipper, we will still have Lana with us in her own special way.
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