As a toy poodle parent, this—the mini LL Bean suitcase, cutting up expensive health food chicken, contemplating dog aging and death—made me genuinely emotional.
Dear Viv! In my imagination, you read me this article while my affectionate cat Buttermilk tried to eat my lunch (pulled pork bread pudding and a Braeburn apple). Knowing that you are the emotional pawn of your portable poodle brought all the feelings to the fore.
Dogs are the best and the hardest thing since we don’t get nearly enough time with them. I’m so glad you had a good trip with Maggi, she’s precious. The senior dog rescue I volunteer at always gives me hope - I’ve walked so many elderly dogs over the years that have great energy and lots of joy, even with health issues. Wishing Maggi eight more happy years ✨
i can only imagine the sweetness and wistfulness of the senior dog rescue! whenever i see a photo of an elderly dog with hair that looks like a fuzzy q tip my heart just melts. thank you tina <3
Oh Viv, this post made me cry. It's bringing back all the memories I had with my ultimate travel companion, Lady, who crossed the rainbow bridge last year. She was always so happy exploring new places and she was obsessed with hotel beds and pillows. Traveling with her was more challenging, but I'm so glad we got to make all those memories. And I'm glad you got this trip with Maggi, she sounds like an absolute angel. Anticipatory grief is so bittersweet, I feel you. Sending love and wish you many more years with Maggi. My Lady made it all the way to 16 (maybe even 17? She was a rescue too) so you never know!
anticipatory grief is SO sneaky! just comes out of nowhere when i am doing dishes or watching her sleep. Lady sounds like she was such a sweetie angel, it's so cute that she was obsessed with the fluffy hotel pillows. what a special girl <3
My dog turned 6 in March and all I think about is that he might only have six years left with me and it breaks my damn heart. He’s my best friend and I love him so much. I’ve never flown with him because he’s a big boy (55lbs) but my husband and I took him with us on our Christmas trip to a cabin in the woods and he had his own bag full of his food, his bones, his toppers, his meds. He’s not as much as a diva as a toy poodle can be, but he’s much a needy boy with a specific diet. Dogs are truly the greatest things and they are so special.
the bones! the toppers! the meds! i totally understand what an ordeal it is to bring them places, but they give so much love and meaning to our lives too <3 i am glad you got to have that christmas cabin adventure together.
as a fellow dog mom of an eight year old rescue, this made me so emotional and also so warm and fuzzy <3 you do such a beautiful job of capturing maggi's personality and also all of the joys of being at this stage of our lives with dogs this age, and wanting to share everything with them!
Thanks for writing and sharing this poignant essay. So glad you and Maggi had a good trip. I adopted my girl (dog) last year and she just turned 8 and I want to do allll the things with her. I’m so grateful to know and have her, but also cognizant that I have to savor each and every moment with her.
As a toy poodle parent, this—the mini LL Bean suitcase, cutting up expensive health food chicken, contemplating dog aging and death—made me genuinely emotional.
toy poodles and their picky eating habits will be the end of us! but we love them so much <3
Exactly. Like. How could we not <3
Dear Viv! In my imagination, you read me this article while my affectionate cat Buttermilk tried to eat my lunch (pulled pork bread pudding and a Braeburn apple). Knowing that you are the emotional pawn of your portable poodle brought all the feelings to the fore.
braeburn apples are top tier! thank you and hi to buttermilk
Dogs are the best and the hardest thing since we don’t get nearly enough time with them. I’m so glad you had a good trip with Maggi, she’s precious. The senior dog rescue I volunteer at always gives me hope - I’ve walked so many elderly dogs over the years that have great energy and lots of joy, even with health issues. Wishing Maggi eight more happy years ✨
i can only imagine the sweetness and wistfulness of the senior dog rescue! whenever i see a photo of an elderly dog with hair that looks like a fuzzy q tip my heart just melts. thank you tina <3
I cried reading this - thank you so much for this beautiful piece of writing. Animal companions truly are magic, and a balm for life.
HER SMILING ON THE LOUNGE CHAIR OMG
😃😃😃
Oh Viv, this post made me cry. It's bringing back all the memories I had with my ultimate travel companion, Lady, who crossed the rainbow bridge last year. She was always so happy exploring new places and she was obsessed with hotel beds and pillows. Traveling with her was more challenging, but I'm so glad we got to make all those memories. And I'm glad you got this trip with Maggi, she sounds like an absolute angel. Anticipatory grief is so bittersweet, I feel you. Sending love and wish you many more years with Maggi. My Lady made it all the way to 16 (maybe even 17? She was a rescue too) so you never know!
anticipatory grief is SO sneaky! just comes out of nowhere when i am doing dishes or watching her sleep. Lady sounds like she was such a sweetie angel, it's so cute that she was obsessed with the fluffy hotel pillows. what a special girl <3
😭💝
four legged rainbow
Oh, my gods…MAGGI! 💞🥰💘
🐩
My dog turned 6 in March and all I think about is that he might only have six years left with me and it breaks my damn heart. He’s my best friend and I love him so much. I’ve never flown with him because he’s a big boy (55lbs) but my husband and I took him with us on our Christmas trip to a cabin in the woods and he had his own bag full of his food, his bones, his toppers, his meds. He’s not as much as a diva as a toy poodle can be, but he’s much a needy boy with a specific diet. Dogs are truly the greatest things and they are so special.
the bones! the toppers! the meds! i totally understand what an ordeal it is to bring them places, but they give so much love and meaning to our lives too <3 i am glad you got to have that christmas cabin adventure together.
Omg she’s so cute on the poolside lounger 🥹
Maggi is precious. She looked so happy basking on the yellow chaise!
She LOVES a chaise!!!
Maggi 🥹 this made me tear up! what a beautiful memory for you both 🩷
🫶
This was such a lovely (and relatable) read as a fellow dog owner. And Maggi is adorable. 🥹
💕💕
as a fellow dog mom of an eight year old rescue, this made me so emotional and also so warm and fuzzy <3 you do such a beautiful job of capturing maggi's personality and also all of the joys of being at this stage of our lives with dogs this age, and wanting to share everything with them!
I love her. We have our own Maggie with an e, she's a Maltese and as cute and sassy-looking as yours. x
Omg my favorite thing is meeting another dog named Maggie. They are sassy ladies!!!
Maggi is everything. So glad you two had a lovely trip and made some memories <3
Thank you 💕💕
Thanks for writing and sharing this poignant essay. So glad you and Maggi had a good trip. I adopted my girl (dog) last year and she just turned 8 and I want to do allll the things with her. I’m so grateful to know and have her, but also cognizant that I have to savor each and every moment with her.
8 is a beautiful age, I always think of it as not young but not old…and a time to cherish