Peace

We had a sunrise start, as we love to do at this time of year. Before the sun crested the eastern horizon, it created a reddish alpenglow on the snowy mountains. The mountain region pictured is where Shyla and I hiked last summer and fall.

I realized today, as I played with Shyla in the forest, that I'm feeling times of peace, for the first time since K died six months ago. I still miss her daily, especially her steady, loyal, and calming companionship. But I also feel lightheartedly happy when I play with my excited and rambunctious puppy in the forest.

Shyla's personality is so very different from K's but that's good. While K was a calming influence on me in almost every situation, Shyla is still a young and evolving dog who keeps me on my toes. She surprises me almost every day with something that she does. Moreover, she's a sponge in terms of learning, and it's incredible to watch her sky-high doggy IQ at work. I started teaching her a new trick yesterday, and she's already "got it", at least in the quiet of our training room.

I wondered what Shyla was dreaming of when I saw this next photo. Romps through the snow? Camping in the spring? Hiking up high in the summer? Mountain bike adventures in the desert? We have a lifetime of adventures ahead of us.

It's wonderful that Shyla is able to run again, romping through our forests like the puppy that she is. Fortunately, since she's been able to run again, most of her destructive chewing around the house has stopped. Like me, she needs to romp every single day.

Later in our snowbike ride this morning, she peeked at me from behind the very same tree as K liked to "hide" behind on the route up to Hug Hill. I no longer feel weird about Shyla doing some of "K's tricks" in our world. However, I find myself wondering what has led her to do them. R has never done those same tricks...

And, I'm very glad that she enjoys being my photography model like K was. I played with yet another amazing lens that my friend loaned me, trying out close-ups of Shyla's whiskers. I barely know how to use this lens yet but it took some fun photos!

Shyla thought that the whisker obsession was a bit boring...

My new sweet girl... with the wide eyes of a puppy. There are no stars in her eyes, like K had, but there's a trust and sweetness that touches my heart. She's a sensitive soul who has learned to trust me. I feel honored.

This past year, with K's illness and death, was one of the most emotionally exhausting of my life. The decision to dive into a new relationship with Shyla fairly soon after K died was difficult and I questioned it at times - but I now feel certain that it was the best decision for both me and Shyla. We were meant to be together - two girls who seize the day romping in our mountains.