We miss you buddy.

We had plans. We had plans to picnic in front of our house once the snow melted so you could just sit and smell the air. We had plans to show you the flowers that were going to bloom this year for the first time. We just bought all those science food so your tummy would not hurt. We were going to install a new staircase and a ramp outside so you could walk down on your own to go potty. We bought so many weewee pads and even a diaper so we could continue to sleep with you on our bed.

We were going to walk more and more slowly to match your pace as you aged. We had created paths around the house so you could sniff things without being bothered by other dogs or people. We would have carried you up & down the stairs, and everywhere else.

We were going to buy the coolest and most comfortable cart so we could push you around when you were eventually too frail to walk, which was supposed to happen years down the road. You would have still been able to enjoy the outside air while we did all the work.

When the time came, we were going to spoil you rotten. With all the food you always wanted but weren’t allowed to have. We’d have driven you to all of your favorite spots including beaches. And in your own home, on the couch, on your favorite plush mat, we were going to ask the kind doctor to let you go gently while we both would tell you that you were safe and loved. We were going to thank you for all the joy you’ve brought to us.

What are we supposed to do with all those plans? All those doggy beds all over the house? Your favorite blankets? Our blankets? Our plush bathrobes that you decided were yours?

You just had to exist and let us love you. That’s all we wanted.

We are sorry about all the times you were ever in pain. We are sorry about all the times you were ever scared. We are sorry about every single time that we could’ve done things better.

We miss you buddy. We hope you felt loved. We hope you felt important. We hope you enjoyed the life you had with us.

We miss you.

Hudad’s busy attending some conference this weekend, so Humom’s trying to entertain me all by herself. I don’t really like to walk these days, even in parks, and when it’s with one human instead of the two, I’m even more determined to turn around to go back after I’m done with my business.

Today, though, I actually wanted to keep going for a change. It was Humom who said “Let’s turn around and go home.” Huff.
Something about ticks and how I keep going into those tall grassy areas to lie down. I like it. A lot of privacy.

Speaking of privacy, can I please have it?

Snow is melting, but ever so slowly. The parks we go to walk Kaiju is still mostly covered with snow.

Kaiju does not seem to mind the persisting low temperatures. And we mostly don’t mind also, especially because all the dog poop that were left uncollected (by some stupid selfish lazy dog owners… ugh) mixed with warmth and melting snow is just really gross.

Still, the deep foot-print holes, made by us humans, which have since frozen up are hard to navigate for the dainty little paws of this slightly limpy Shiba. So he moves slowly.

It’s still winter but the snow is slowly melting. I see plants that have been buried reappear everywhere. The surfaces and smells are so new and different from the past months. I will need to re-investigate everything.

For now, I just enjoy the sun and the warmth and let my humans spy on me from the window.

It’s so amazing how well Kaiju does when Paul clips his nails these days. It used to be such an intense event that we dreaded. It often accompanied with Shiba-screams and a full-force resistance. Kaiju was so scared and he would fling his head around so hard it hit our lips which sometimes swelled up and bled.

What brought this wonderful change in Kaiju’s attitude towards nail clipping? This video made by wonderful Dr. Sophia Yin (who sadly passed away recently). Kaiju was just like this dog in the video (at the beginning of the video) during his first couple of years with us. If you are having trouble, try following exactly what she does in the video.

We owe her so very much.

Such a pretty day. Blue blue sky, and soft white snow. Humans took me to walk on the trails behind the nearby farm with funny animals (‘goats’ they said).

Humans: “Look Kaiju! We finally got you a brother!” “He has no hair… I hope that’s all right with you.”

Humans needed to go to ‘Maine’ for something, so I went with them. After their business was done (which took long and I was bored to death!), they took me to the beach. Phew! Good things come to those who wait…. in a crate in a car for a long time!