Tag: Loss

All the Dogs I Loved Before

All the Dogs I Loved Before

Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson sang a duet in 1984 about all the girls they loved before.
 In my humble opinion, the lyrics should change to all the dogs I loved before.

This morning, while I was driving the Passenger Prince, we saw a Wheaten Terrier. Our first “together” dog was a Wheaten. By pure coincidence, this week also marks the anniversary of our Wheaten’s passing.

Our Wheaten—the Wonder Dog—was the Prince’s dog, and I was the spare human. The Wonder Dog was wicked smart and an incredible family dog. The Prince still talks about him as if he were an angel. The Wonder Dog had many shenanigans and loved to one-up the Prince all the time. He was great—but the Prince tends to forget that the Wonder Dog once broke a window when his arch nemesis walked by, or how he managed to reach the counter (despite his short stature) and eat all the bread. He was our first counter-surfer, and we learned a lot from his antics. We had to completely dog-proof the house!

Coincidentally, a couple of weeks ago was the “Gotcha Day” for our second dog together. She was amazing—my dog—and he was the spare human that time. She died unexpectedly, but we were fortunate to have her with us for six wonderful years.

We mourned both dogs deeply. I still cry when I think about them.
Our third “together” dog is our latest—she’s a heart healer and pure joy. She’s a rescue, and on many days, I think she rescued us from sadness.

Seeing that Wheaten this morning made us both smile. As we drove to work, we felt happy and full of memories. By the time I dropped the Prince off, we had already agreed: our next dog will be a Wheaten.

Afterward, I checked my Spotify playlist and added Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson’s duet—because, after all, it really is about all the dogs I loved before.

Thanksgiving 2024 

Thanksgiving is upon us, a holiday that unites all Americans, regardless of their religious beliefs. It’s a secular family holiday that forces us to pause, look at our lives, and reflect on what we are truly thankful for. The easiest answer when asked what you’re thankful for might be health or money, but sometimes, you have to dig deeper and introspect—even if the answer is something just for yourself.

This past year has not been an easy one for my family and me. My husband was laid off from a big high-tech company, our family dog passed away unexpectedly, my home country has been in the midst of an ongoing war, and my PTSD returned. Truthfully, my heart was broken, and I cried more than I care to admit. Yet, even in the darkest corners of my heart, hope remained—small but steady—and for that, I am thankful.

I am thankful that, after less than a year, my husband found a new job. Reinventing yourself in your late fifties is no small feat, but he did it. I’m thankful that my adult children have found wonderful life partners who truly care for them.

I’m thankful that we managed to survive this difficult year and still found time to take a vacation, despite everything. I’m thankful for all I’ve learned about myself—about my strength, resilience, and abilities. I’m thankful that my imposter syndrome shrank a little this year. I’m also incredibly thankful for the growth and success of my side hustle, which I am working hard to expand next year. It’s exciting to see my M.B.A. skills come to life in my new business venture, and I’ve discovered a new passion along the way.

Despite all the hardships, I am thankful that hope never fully died. It may have flickered at times, but it always found its way back.