Six weeks later and yet I still…

I still look for that long black snout to push open the curtains in the front window when my car pulls in the driveway.

I still expect to hear the jingle of his collar behind me when I head up the stairs.

I still plan my outings from home based on when Chance would need to be let out to relieve himself.

I still miss those wet kisses and that happy go lucky smile.

Most days, we can reminisce without tears, but sometimes the tears come at the most unexpected moments…like when waiting for the bus with my daughter and telling my husband about how Chance routinely waited with us.

Or when I pet someone else’s dog at the park (seriously didn’t expect that one to make me misty-eyed!).

Or when we walked into our home after picking up my husband after his deployment, and Chance’s exuberant welcome was glaringly absent.

But Chance’s photo is now in every room of our house, and that helps. Both kiddos have stuffed black and tan pups to sleep with, and that helps. Comet dog’s mom created a beautiful memorial video for Chance, and that helps. Chance’s food was donated to a local rescue organization, his heartworm pills were picked up on the tripawd angel exchange, and knowing those items are being used by other special pups helps.  I still check up on tripawd pups through the site, though sometimes it is too hard to find the words to share in a comment, but knowing the community is there…helps.

We still plan to create our Chance memory book, and when it is complete, I will post a link. In the meantime, here are a few more photos –

My daughter with her stuffed pup

The very last photo taken of Chance – my mom took this with her camera phone while she was in town just one week before we let Chance go

And our long awaited reunion with my husband after his deployment