A New Girl in Town...

It was hard to find the right dog to fit our needs and our family. We loved Roxy so much and no other dog could replace her or pick up where she left off. Accepting that we would have to pour into our new addition and teach her the ropes, we agreed to take "Aurora a.k.a. Rorie" and welcome her into our lives. She met my basic requirements: crate trained, over six months old, partially housebroken and of course, adorable. My husband got the puppy he wanted and I did not have to lose sleep at night with a whining bundle of fur that needed to go outside every hour. Win-win for all. The name was changed to a Hawaiian word, "Koa", it means brave and fearless. It was especially significant to me because I desperately wanted another dog but was so afraid that my anxiety would overwhelm me and the stress might trigger my panic attacks. I prayed to overcome it and this name stood out to me as the perfect one.

She has golden eyes that look at us in a sweet, inviting manner. Her long tail and big floppy ears beg to be smushed. Chocolate brown fur that is short and glossy with a strip of black down the middle of her back shines in the sun. At 45 pounds and 7 months old, she is still a puppy, but her size is that of a boxer and there is potential for another 10-15 pounds of weight and size to gain. This Labrador mix is a goofball who gets a wild hair and tears through our house in a tornado of speed, crashing into walls as she turns the corners and does not clear them. It reminds us all of Roxy's spunk and fun and helps us remember her with a warm feeling in our hearts as we love this new girl in town.

When Zoe rides her scooter in the courtyard, Koa follows behind with a playful gait. This bothers Zoe because the two have not fully bonded yet and Zoe may be a little intimidated by the medium sized animal following behind on four paws. In time they will come to an agreement. London has fallen in love and fawns over this dog just as I hoped she would.We sit together on the floor and mush on her together and talk to her in ridiculous voices that are usually reserved for babies.

The aqua color memory foam bathmat intrigues her after she steps on it in an inquisitive manner and then discovers that it moves. This results in a full frontal pounce with two paws and a nose to get underneath this flat beast that is taunting her. Several jumps and sniffs later, she moves on to other exploits. Luckily I got this on video and it provides our family with much amusement and a first hand glimpse of her personality at home. Every morning she comes to my side of the bed to greet me with ice cold ears and licks because she has just had her 5am morning walk that Scott is kind enough to take her on. It starts my day off with a smile and I am eternally grateful to my husband for letting get the extra hour of sleep. The void that Roxy left is slowly being stitched up by the thread of Koa's presence, but her memory and the love we had for her will always remain in our hearts, pictures, and memories.

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A Good Friend Leaves...

It was the end of Spring, we were ready for beach days and rainbow colored Otter Pops in the hot afternoons on the back patio. No one prepared us for the sudden shock. Roxy went from being our happy couch potato to a very sick and lethargic dog within 24 hours. It turned out she had cancerous masses in her spleen and liver and was bleeding internally. I knew it was serious when she turned away as I went to pet her. Never in million years would she refuse love. This was heartbreaking for all of us. We brought her home for a few hours to lay together on the floor and share unspoken time together.

That evening, we bid her farewell and said our goodbyes with tears streaming down our faces and hearts tearing apart inside. I took her to the vet and stayed with her during the whole process of sending her off to Heaven. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do and makes me cry as I describe it. We are comforted by the knowledge that she is in the most perfect place with a new body and the joyous spirit that she had here on Earth. She is now eating anything she wants and running as fast as she can with every type of animal and Roxy is happy. We are left here to remember her and to reminisce on all the joy she brought to us. We love you and will always miss you dear Roxy.

xoxo

your family.

In Media Res...

An explosion of sound danced in my ears and my brain took a few moments to process the incredible sounds as my eyes gazed at the colored lights. The sound was so strong it vibrated throughout my being and it was like a wake-up call, reminding me of who I had been at 19 and other ages as well. I was thoroughly alive for the next two hours as I went through a myriad of emotion on a musical journey with one of my favorite bands I've ever heard or seen. It was like re-discovering a long forgotten part of my soul. Scott pointed out the tech working the lights and we were fascinated by the machinery that he manipulated as he sang every word and moved with the songs like a fourth band member working from afar. Halfway through the set the fire alarm rang out and people didn't seem concerned, the band played on and we looked around but everything seemed fine. If the techs weren't moving and the band was still going, I figured we were good. After the song, the singer commented that it happened to them all the time. Funny. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has an awesome female drummer, did I mention how great she is? Need to see them again.

We began the evening by going to dinner and watching the sun gently settle among the clouds over the water in the harbor. The novelty of a different atmosphere made it charming and we shared jokes and conversation at our table. He reminded me of a fine whiskey that acquires subtle nuances and character as it slowly ages, clearly attractive with more to offer each day. My best friend.

Upon arrival at the House of Blues, we were escorted to prime seating next to the lighting tech within excellent view of the stage. My foot surgery was clearly a perk! Unusual paintings covered the ceiling, meant to evoke images from New Orleans and a standing room only venue lay the canvas for the night. The cocktail server and I put our heads together for a moment, resulting in a fabulous Southern Comfort, Sprite, and a lime that had a good wallop to it. Ah yes, now I could settle in and anticipate what lay ahead.

The opening band took the stage and by the second song I began to pay closer attention as I heard some influences of the Ramones, Stones, U2, and others. The singer had a classic rock and roll scream that he used at just the right moments to add flavor to the songs. I was moving in my seat.  Definitely impressive. The name was unusual, Bass Drum of Death. Go figure.