I’m a sucker for a lovely story about someone creating a “bucket list” for their dying dog. They get me every time.
But they also strengthen my determination to enjoy every day I have with Honey. And not wait until it’s too late.
Today Is My Dog’s Birthday
Honey turns five years old today.
I’m shocked. What happened to that little bundle of fur who slept curled up on my lap and who constantly bit me with her little shark teeth?
While I’m sad that so much of her comparatively short life has already passed, I look back on all the things we’ve done together with joy.
If I had a bucket list for Honey, I’d say we made a pretty good start on it. I have no intention of waiting until it’s too late.
Fun Things We’ve Done With Honey
Here are just a few of the fun things we’ve done with Honey:
- gone kayaking
- walked off-leash
And don’t forget to add chewing on my favorite monkey snake. - camped in the woods
- dug on the beach
- dined in outdoor restaurants
- taken long car trips
- gone sailing
- entertained playful guest dogs and foster pups
I love making new friends. Puppy class was great! - gone to training classes
- visited the dog park
- met friendly cats
- rolled in goose poop (well, Honey did that; I just watched)
- walked for hours
- eaten yummy snacks
- met friendly strangers
- visited with fans of the blog who became friends
- played nose work games
Y’know, I’ve heard that some dogs get to eat their food out of a bowl. Why are you always hiding food and making me look for it? - frolicked in the snow
- cuddled on the couch
- played fetch
- and much more.
In fact, we’ve done a few of those things with Honey just this week.
And today, for Honey’s birthday, we’ll do a few more.
Time With Our Dogs Is Always Too Short
Do you know Sharon of the Grouchy Puppy and Cleo’s Day blogs?
Sharon has been a passionate advocate for senior dogs. And she lost her senior girl, Cleo, last fall. Sharon wrote a perfect comment on the Something Wagging Facebook page:
“Making every day meaningful is big. I can’t tell you how good it feels to have stacks of everyday moments with Cleo in my head and heart. The volume is comforting, as much as how touching and special many of them are.”
Well said, Sharon. Well said.
So I’ll wrap this up soon.
It’s Honey’s birthday. And I won’t be spending it in front of the computer (except maybe when she’s napping; a girl’s gotta get some work done).
I’ll be spending it with Honey. Because I don’t want to wait until it’s too late. And feel bad that I didn’t do more with our time together.
Join Honey’s Birthday Fun
I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed seeing pictures of your dog’s favorite joys on the Something Wagging Facebook page.
I’ve posted a few pictures from Honey’s long and off-leash walks from this weekend. Add yours to the page. Or any pictures of your dog enjoying happy times.
I’d rather invite you all over for Honey’s birthday. But seeing your pictures is the next best thing.
Your Turn: What things have you done with your dogs that you look back on with the most joy? And what do you look forward to doing with your dogs in the future?
Treat Your Dog Like You’re Married
I always try to include the pups with me on whatever we are doing. We don’t have a bucket list, but whatever we do, we do it in the most dog-friendly way possible.
Monty and Harlow
Some of my best memories are going snowshoeing with our dogs and we have lots of pictures. Also, quiet cuddle times on the couch. Our oldest is nearing 8 and I really try to make every minute count.
My favorite memories are taking the boys to the undeveloped beach and letting them run and swim to their heart’s content.
My blog will be a wonderful reminder that I gave my dogs a good life. It is easy to forget the day to day happenings and a least now I will remember at least a few of them!
Oh, and a very Happy 5th Birthday to Honey!
Happy Birthday Honey!!!!!! I loved seeing your beautiful puppy photos!
I love this post! I try my hardest to live in the moment and do things I want to do now rather than putting it off. Buster and I have done some pretty great things, but I really want to take a vacation at the beach with him and go to some dog friendly wineries.
This morning my Google calendar bell rang and in the corner of my screen I saw “Honey’s Birthday” I scratched my head almost a dozen times trying to figure out who in the doodle was Honey? Then I saw this post and laughed out loud. I’d put it on the calendar so Harley could send his “cousin” a special birthday wish on her FB page. So without further ado, we shall zip over there. Enjoy your day with Honey, take lot’s of photos and do crazy memorable things! Have a beautiful day.
Everything. I love everyday with these two, and I am so glad we get to spend so much time together.
Just as it is important to cherish every day with humans you need to do the same with your pups. One never knows when time is up and you need to always make the best of it. Happy birthday to Honey!
This is a wonderful reminder! We too, try to live each moment we can with our dogs, and make as many memories along the way. Our oldest boy Bear is going on 13 years old, and his graying muzzle is a constant reminder to live each day to the fullest!
Happy Birthday Honey!
Happy Birthday, Honey! Hope you are all enjoying her special day!
I totally agree. We always gave Jasmine all we could everyday ah of her life. When she did near her time to go, there was no chance of giving her anything special. She couldn’t eat, she couldn’t walk. There was nothing special we could have given her her last days and hours. But at least we gave her everything all the other days she’s been with us.
Happy Birthday Honey hope you have many more years with many more things crossed off your bucket list. I didn’t have a bucket list for my dog(s) until my soulmate was diagnosed with ostersarcoma I knew he wasn’t going to have long so each day off and weekend I took him to all our favorite spots and took pictures. That is what helped me the most is dealing with the day he was going to leave us and gave me something to look back on in the healing days ahead. It has been over a year and I still miss him and think off the stuff we did in the end.
Happy birthday Honey! Wishing you all a great day filled with lots of Honey to-do items. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Honey!
I have a secret. A few months ago I started sleeping on a day bed in the living room, where my dogs choose to sleep, just to spend more time with them :->
I meant to wish Honey a Happy 5th Birthday here yesterday but obviously that didn’t happen 🙁 I am sure Honey had a wonderful day though, you would make sure of that!
I don’t need a bucket list for my dogs. There would only be one thing on it … can we please have an unlimited supply of bunnies to chase? I can’t think of anything they would rather do. Having 3 dogs makes it difficult to have one on one time as I hate to exclude any dogs. I think they are fairly happy, perhaps not quite so much so this time of year when I’m really busy working and they hardly see me. We muddle along though and it won’t last forever. There actually might be 2 things on their bucket list, the other thing would be for me to not work and spend all day taking them places where they can chase bunnies, lol!
I hope Honey had a wonderful birthday celebration week! I totally agree with your view on the bucket list. I’ll have no regrets in the end that I didn’t spend enough quality time with Haley doing all the different things that she loves or having her with us on so many fun adventures. I do appreciate every day I have with her. 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday, Honey!
I think the most fun I had with Blueberry was when I rented a cabin and we got to hike near a creek. That was fun for both of us. I wouldn’t mind doing that again – but even if we don’t – we have some pretty cool adventures on our desert hikes.
Happy belated Birthday Honey!!! I am just starting to catch up on my blogs that I have missed because I had internet only a couple times a week. I had to borrow my sisters computer on my days off from my new job.