3 year anniversary of our Pomeranian Toby’s passing: A journey of FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement…
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| Toby at Pittsburgh, PA (2021) |
Unknown: “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”
The month of March marks the third anniversary of our beloved fur baby Toby’s passing. It is really true what people say about passing of a loved one: Time heals.
What is not always true is this, that we tend to eventually forget everyone and everything over time. While most of it might apply, we found out that it isn’t the case when it comes to your truly loved ones, like your family, and your pets.
Prior to raising our first fur baby, I personally wouldn’t have believed that a dog would succeed in opening my sometimes jaded, and at times cold and indifferent heart. I mean, a dog can’t even carry on deep conversations with us, right?
How could a thing that couldn’t speak, communicate with us on such a deep level? Well, I found out that communication and forming an unbreakable bond doesn’t require speech. Animals live perfectly happy lives without uttering a single word.
What about us humans? Well, we speak constantly, but are we as happy as a dog or a cat? I sometimes wonder…
Toby was one of a kind. From the time my wife and I laid our eyes on him, we knew he was one and only, and perfect for us. He had a perfectly calm demeanor about him when things around him were hectic. He was the only dog who slept in the playing pen, while others around him were busy moving around, yapping, or jumping up and down, looking for attention.
Toby reminded me so much of myself: Both acting like Zen masters, living life on our own pace and on our own terms, without letting the outside world bother us too much. When we want a nap, we’re going to take a nap, dammit!
Since falling head over heels over that extremely furry and cute boy on our first encounter, we enjoyed a lifetime together. Always traveling together, going on new explorations to new parks/overlooks/towns, and/or eating together, we were so blessed to have gotten the opportunity to grow old with him.
We sometimes wish dogs lived longer, like say 30-50 years instead of 10-15 years so we can enjoy each other’s company longer. But I also realize this is a wish, not a reality at this point.
15 years may not be that long, but we take what we can get, right? It’s not like we ourselves know how much time we have on this planet. It’s best to just make the best out of it…
As we look back on our time together (sometimes it feels like another life we lived), it’s hard to sometimes remember every minute detail of our time together. Well, time does distort these somewhat.
What is important though is the overall feel and our memory of him: of him eating some of his favorite foods like corn, watermelon, treats, and/or walking side by side on a hiking trail, him looking extremely happy and content while he absolutely showers people with his infectious smile and his famous swag of a walk.
As tough as the last year of his life was for all of us, we want to remember the good times whenever possible. There are so many to choose from. We are just so blessed we have them to share…
We think about him just about everyday. This is especially true whenever we see a dog or a cat in real life or online, reminding us of him.
You know, I’ve always been torn when asked this question from a young age: “Is it better to have loved than not to have loved at all?”
At least if you never loved someone or animal that deeply, then you wouldn’t need to be hurt when they’re gone, right? Well, as conflicting as this question may be, I still choose to have loved.
What is the point of living if you always take the safe, easy path? What stories will you tell others if you live a life devoid of risks? What fun is that?
Despite experiencing the good along with the bad, I would choose to live it the way I have always lived. That is, live to the fullest, love when you can, love deeply, enjoy life deeply.
What is life anyway, if not a collection of memories when everything is said and done…
We’re glad we got to love our fur ball deeply and to have spent that 15 years together, as a pack. Memories will remain, and he will never be forgotten. Thanks bud, we will always love you!
Thank you for reading and happy trails!
Jake
Wandering Money Pig
