Another Goodbye

It was almost a year ago that my beloved dog Chip died. He had advanced kidney

disease. Yesterday, I lost my other dog, Teddy. He and Chip had been kennel mates

since we got them as puppies. Teddy had an aggressive cancer that came on strong

and things escalated very quickly. We had a few moments to say goodbye, but it’s so

hard to lose a family member, especially almost to the day you lost another. We had

them for 11+ years, but it’s never enough time.

Teddy has always loved to play with balls, had amazing eye/mouth coordination and

could run with the best of them. He was a snuggler and a natural model - always ready

with a stunning pose and ears that defied gravity but welcomed a smile.

Lately, I’ve been singing and playing guitar a lot and Teddy generally might nap while

I’m warbling, but in the last couple of months, he started to sing with me. I’d be singing “Creep” and get to the chorus and he’d be right there with me howling away. I regret not getting this on video, but I did manage to snap a photo of him singing.

I know that I show you a lot of highlights of my life and I do my best to live life and show you that I’m okay. But this has been a year filled with grieving. Ironically, I’ve just finished my “Widow’s Survival Guide” and in the process of printing it so I can release it this year. I went to Sara Bareilles’ show in Chicago called the “Good Grief” tour. Good grief indeed. Grief walks beside me every day. I’ve cried so much this year I’m quite sure I’m the sole reason Kleenex's stock has gone up. Oceans of love equals oceans of tears is what I’ve decided.

Angels are always among us and I wanted to thank Dr. Smith at Wyllow Pet Hospital in Beaver Dam, WI for their diligent care of Teddy and Chip throughout the years. When Teddy got sick, they made arrangements immediately to get him in at the University of

Wisconsin (UW) Veterinarian School Hospital that night. Teddy never made it out of the

hospital, but they did absolutely everything they could to find out what was wrong and

treat it as best they could. The diagnosis was not what any of us wanted. Special thanks

to Dr. Farber-Klein and the myriad of folks that work at UW. I knew Teddy was getting

the best care and I’m confident those students are getting the best education possible.

Most remarkable was their level of compassion at every turn. I imagine it’s one of the

hardest jobs in the world to be a doctor and deliver bad news to the family, but being an

incredibly compassionate person at the same time takes more strength than we realize.

If you have pets and want my recommendations for where to take them – you have

them. There are none finer that I have met.

I lament that I wasn’t always the perfect mom and spent time away from Chip and Teddy going into the office and on my adventures. Lindsay Reynolds was their second mom and she took care of them whenever I needed help. As I’m a recent empty-nester, it’s been even more critical to make sure Teddy knew he was loved. She loved my dogs like her own and I’m forever grateful for her. Truth be told, she took care of me at times when I didn’t know how to navigate things.

Someone asked me how I was doing recently because they can see my highlights on

social media but it doesn’t always tell the story. I told her I was doing okay. Right now, I’m

grieving and wondering why this season of my life has taken so many unexpected dark

turns. But I will get through this. I always do because that’s life and today I am so

incredibly grateful I have two amazing children who walk with me no matter the

challenge or adventure ahead. My friends and family, thank you for your love and kindness to me and to Teddy. He was a good boy who loved us unconditionally and we’ll forever be grateful.

Let’s chat soon.

With affection,

Carrie VS