Grief sucks!  It sneaks up on you in the most unexpected moments or times that you think you are ready to handle it.  Our dog passed away in early June.  I left her crate up and felt like I was ready to take it down.  I have cried 3 times already this morning and I haven’t even taken the bedding (yes, it is clean) out yet.  We had some things on top like her harness and leash, a sweatshirt she wore in the winter to help protect her fur from the snow. Cue the sobbing tears and the memories.  Willow (our dog) was a NW Farm Terrier.  A breed that includes 5 different types of terrier.  I know what was I thinking…sassy, hyper and opinionated terrier.  She was such a good dog and at the same time some days very annoying (lol). For example, she would bark at reflections on the walls when something plastic, glass, you name it, would get hit by sunlight and shine on the wall.  If I didn’t realize it had happened and she barked it would scare the crap out of me.  I think it might have been one of her favorite pastimes. That and sleeping; this silly dog loved her crate with a passion.  She also wouldn’t nap in it without the door being closed and locked.  It was one of her favorite places. Maybe this is why I have so many big feelings about taking it down. It is also comforting to see it there even though I know she is gone. 

Well the next morning, I was able to take down Willow’s crate.  Another signal of her being gone. 🙁 It is odd to see the space where her crate was transformed into a new space. She has now moved to my heart hotel.  

A place brought to my attention many years ago. Our heart hotel has rooms for those who have passed who had an impact on our lives.  My heart hotel has rooms filled by grandparents, pets and friends. I think of them all with love and sadness at times.  I like to imagine Willow’s room is like her crate on a grander scale. It is filled with cotton blankets so she isn’t itchy and all the food she loved to eat.  Now all those foods she can eat without itching, poor girl was allergic to the world. Now in her heart hotel room she can eat anything without itching.  I smile now as I think of her feasting on apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries and more.  She loved fruit! You greatly loved and missed Willow! ❤️‍🩹