It's been two and a half years since I blogged last. Where does the time go? Like seriously, how are we already going into 2018...
So much has happened in the last few years, but not much has changed. I'm still just a big kid trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up, but let's be real...I'm not planning on growing up anytime soon. Since I posted last I have:
- graduated grad school.
- run multiple ultramarathons.
- become an instructor of Anatomy at MSU.
- broken my leg & blown out my knee.
- come back from a career injury, again...
- gone to Asia, TWICE.
- backpacked Spain alone.
- begun dating someone.
- witnessed my baby brother get married.
- started another degree.
So many things have happened, big life things, but yet I feel like my life is relatively still the same. I still go to school multiple times per week, to teach this time, not as a student (until next semester any way). I still am on the soccer field almost every night, and I am still exploring the world going on adventures and meeting new people.
2016 sucked. Like really sucked. I finished 2015 on a high note and rolling into 2016 it looked to continue that pattern, I went to Hawaii to visit some friends for my birthday and then headed on to China . I fell in LOVE with Asia. Had an amazing trip visiting some amazing friends, but then I broke my leg and blew out my knee. See ya life. I spent 4 months in bed. 2 surgeries. Countless appointments and I am still working back from that. But that's okay, I'm used to fighting my way back.
2017 though, now this year and been a year of many firsts. So far this has been an INCREDIBLE year. I started it off with a bang. I decided to backpack Spain, alone, which was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I met so many people from so many different countries. It was scary at first, but what an unbelievable experience. I worked on my Spanish and grew as a person. Couldn't ask for much more.
Then before I knew it we were at summer. In July my brother and my cousin both married their sweethearts. I have never had so much fun in my life or danced as much as I did at those weddings. I met my boyfriend at my cousin's wedding. I decided to take a leap of faith and ask one of my cousin's cute groomsman to dance...I really shouldn't use ask because I mostly just pulled him onto the dance floor. It was later into the reception, I had noticed him all night and I figured, what the heck! I ran up to him, grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. As I pulled this Army guy onto the dance floor I giggled as I said, "put that drink down, I need someone to dance with me...oh by the way, I'm Jess. Kevin's cousin." We danced the night away and have been together ever since. I love our story and the kind, sweet man that I took a risk on that night. Since summer this year there has been a lot of back and forth traveling for both of us, but you will find no complaining here. I'm happy with any time I can get with him.
The last big thing of the year, so far. I backpacked Asia with my best friend. We did China, Thailand, & Vietnam. What an adventure. We did so many interesting things. Saigon was not impressive, in fact we tried to leave early. The city was a typical big city with trash and graffiti everywhere, rats (gross), and touristy nonsense. We did visit the War Remnants Museum and see their view of the war. I knew the Vietnam War was bad, but lordy...
Thailand was probably the best of the Asia part of the trip. Surfing, swimming with elephants, driving a motorbike on the left side of the road were just a few of things we experienced...and the food. Delicious. Then after Thailand I got to spend an entire week with the BF. It was so fun! Definitely a change from our normal quick weekend trips to visit each other. I loved being able to just be with him. Doing normal life. Cooking dinner together, watching tv, working out. An experience I will not take for granted.
That has been life for me up until now. Sheesh, two and a half years. Don't worry friends, I won't take that much time off of blogging again I hope.
Until next time.
- j
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Monday, May 11, 2015
Onto the Next Chapter: Life & Training
It has been awhile since I posted any updates on training or life in general, so here is what has happened in the 3 months since my last post.
I completed my last classes as a graduate student last week.
I take my last final exam as a graduate student tomorrow.
I taught my last class as a graduate assistant.
I defend my thesis in two weeks and I'm done.
It is finally starting to hit me that my journey as a "college kid" is coming to an end. It is surreal and odd, but exhilarating and somewhat exciting. I have been in college working towards something, anything since 2007. I can't believe I even admitted to that. I feel as if I have turned into what others refer to as a "professional student." But on Friday when I walk across that stage, no more student here. The last thing on the to-do list is to prep for and defend my thesis. It has been a long road and there were many times that I thought that I would not be able to complete this journey (I guess I technically haven't completed it yet...). There were a lot of tears involved, a lot of curse words, and melt-downs, but I suppose that is what graduate school is for. To teach you how to be strong and fight for what you want, even if it is just a piece of paper with a shiny emblem on it. That piece of paper represents a lot. It represents all the plans I canceled, the holidays I missed, the friends that got left behind. It represents my family's support, my sanity (or lack thereof), the number of Friday nights spent at home or in the lab. It represents a part of me that I knew was there, but I had to prove to everyone else. But most of all it represents all the sacrifices my family and I have made so that I could pursue a dream.
It's scary to close a chapter of your life because honestly I have no idea what comes next. Do I get a grown-up job? Do I apply for more schooling? Do I become a snow bum and move to the mountains? So many questions and no answers. For once I think I am okay with that. I'm excited to see what comes next for me.
Training Update -- for all of you who are curious about my training, well here is an update for ya! It's going great. I ran my longest run in 3+ years yesterday, 11 miles! I went slow and ran the entire way. I was nervous and anxious about this run, I didn't know how my body would respond. My back has been giving me problems for almost a month now. The run was great, the weather was nice, and I even got a nice little tan. That being said I am feeling even more confident about the 24k I have coming up at the end of the month at XTERRA Eureka Springs!
I realized something yesterday with all that time to think. I am not a pretty runner, I am not graceful or elegant as I run. I turn red and look as if I might pass out, my form is mediocre at best, and don't get me started on that posture of mine, but amidst all of that, I am a runner. It doesn't matter how fast I go or the mileage that I do, all that matters is that I lace up those shoes and I put one foot in front of the other. I don't need a cute outfit or the newest shoes. All I need is my music, my shoes, and the road/trail.
This journey so far has been interesting, it has helped me reconnect with a part of me that I thought died when I left the sport of triathlon. It has helped me realize that training for something bigger than yourself is more of a motivator that anything else. Running in support of the Rampy MS Foundation pushes me every day to be better because I know they are behind me 100%. I appreciate everyone who has given me words of encouragement and supported my cause. Because of you the fight against MS is stronger than it was before!
I should probably finish up this last lab report. Until next time.
- J
If you would like to donate to my fundraiser you can follow the link below:
https://www.purecharity.com/rampy-ms-research-foundation-teamenduraceforms-12
I completed my last classes as a graduate student last week.
I take my last final exam as a graduate student tomorrow.
I taught my last class as a graduate assistant.
I defend my thesis in two weeks and I'm done.
It is finally starting to hit me that my journey as a "college kid" is coming to an end. It is surreal and odd, but exhilarating and somewhat exciting. I have been in college working towards something, anything since 2007. I can't believe I even admitted to that. I feel as if I have turned into what others refer to as a "professional student." But on Friday when I walk across that stage, no more student here. The last thing on the to-do list is to prep for and defend my thesis. It has been a long road and there were many times that I thought that I would not be able to complete this journey (I guess I technically haven't completed it yet...). There were a lot of tears involved, a lot of curse words, and melt-downs, but I suppose that is what graduate school is for. To teach you how to be strong and fight for what you want, even if it is just a piece of paper with a shiny emblem on it. That piece of paper represents a lot. It represents all the plans I canceled, the holidays I missed, the friends that got left behind. It represents my family's support, my sanity (or lack thereof), the number of Friday nights spent at home or in the lab. It represents a part of me that I knew was there, but I had to prove to everyone else. But most of all it represents all the sacrifices my family and I have made so that I could pursue a dream.
It's scary to close a chapter of your life because honestly I have no idea what comes next. Do I get a grown-up job? Do I apply for more schooling? Do I become a snow bum and move to the mountains? So many questions and no answers. For once I think I am okay with that. I'm excited to see what comes next for me.
Training Update -- for all of you who are curious about my training, well here is an update for ya! It's going great. I ran my longest run in 3+ years yesterday, 11 miles! I went slow and ran the entire way. I was nervous and anxious about this run, I didn't know how my body would respond. My back has been giving me problems for almost a month now. The run was great, the weather was nice, and I even got a nice little tan. That being said I am feeling even more confident about the 24k I have coming up at the end of the month at XTERRA Eureka Springs!
I realized something yesterday with all that time to think. I am not a pretty runner, I am not graceful or elegant as I run. I turn red and look as if I might pass out, my form is mediocre at best, and don't get me started on that posture of mine, but amidst all of that, I am a runner. It doesn't matter how fast I go or the mileage that I do, all that matters is that I lace up those shoes and I put one foot in front of the other. I don't need a cute outfit or the newest shoes. All I need is my music, my shoes, and the road/trail.
This journey so far has been interesting, it has helped me reconnect with a part of me that I thought died when I left the sport of triathlon. It has helped me realize that training for something bigger than yourself is more of a motivator that anything else. Running in support of the Rampy MS Foundation pushes me every day to be better because I know they are behind me 100%. I appreciate everyone who has given me words of encouragement and supported my cause. Because of you the fight against MS is stronger than it was before!
I should probably finish up this last lab report. Until next time.
- J
If you would like to donate to my fundraiser you can follow the link below:
https://www.purecharity.com/rampy-ms-research-foundation-teamenduraceforms-12
Friday, February 6, 2015
50k Training/Life Update
It's been about three or four weeks since I announced that I am running a 50k. Here's an update on life since I dropped that bombshell.
School has been CRAZY. I get up at 4 am most mornings and try to be at school by 5 so that I can get myself ready for the day, work on homework, or my thesis paper. Load up five classes on top of that and I feel like I am slowly going crazy. Running around trying to figure out what it is I forgot to do this time.
Thesis paper is going okay. Slow, but progress is being made in some capacity...from what I am told that is a good thing. Teaching is GREAT. I love it, so much more than I thought I would.
Free time has been scarce so my training has been sporadic. I manage to get in about three days of running each week...my long runs are already in the double digits! I feel great during my runs; strong, confident, like I could run forever (some days).
I try and make it to Crossfit when I can...which isn't as often as I would like. But I still make a couple of times a week.
I finally got my Donation Page set up so that anyone who wants to support me on this crazy ride of mine can! My 50k isn't until November, but I am starting my fundracin' early (you'll get it when you see my page). There you can read about my back story, if you haven't already heard me blab about it, as well as read about the Rampy MS Foundation.
That is all I have for now, off to the library.
If you want to donate following the link below. Thank you in advance for your support! I appreciate it more than you know!
- j
https://www.purecharity.com/rampy-ms-research-foundation-teamenduraceforms-12
School has been CRAZY. I get up at 4 am most mornings and try to be at school by 5 so that I can get myself ready for the day, work on homework, or my thesis paper. Load up five classes on top of that and I feel like I am slowly going crazy. Running around trying to figure out what it is I forgot to do this time.
Thesis paper is going okay. Slow, but progress is being made in some capacity...from what I am told that is a good thing. Teaching is GREAT. I love it, so much more than I thought I would.
Free time has been scarce so my training has been sporadic. I manage to get in about three days of running each week...my long runs are already in the double digits! I feel great during my runs; strong, confident, like I could run forever (some days).
I try and make it to Crossfit when I can...which isn't as often as I would like. But I still make a couple of times a week.
I finally got my Donation Page set up so that anyone who wants to support me on this crazy ride of mine can! My 50k isn't until November, but I am starting my fundracin' early (you'll get it when you see my page). There you can read about my back story, if you haven't already heard me blab about it, as well as read about the Rampy MS Foundation.
That is all I have for now, off to the library.
If you want to donate following the link below. Thank you in advance for your support! I appreciate it more than you know!
- j
https://www.purecharity.com/rampy-ms-research-foundation-teamenduraceforms-12
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Running a 50k....Insane or Ambitious?
Every year when this time of year comes around it gets me thinking. Thinking about my birthday and how much older I'll be. Did I accomplish what I wanted to or I thought I would by this age? Usually the answer to this is no. In fact I never thought that far in advance as a kid/teenager. I could hardly think past the next meal, let alone to what lay ten years down the road for me.
I'll be 26 next month. 26?! I can't believe that I am on the downhill slope of my twenties. Where did my time go? That shouldn't be a question really, more like a statement. I know where they went, if you check in the library of my last two universities you'll find the last 8 years of my life in the "reference" section. I love school, that is why I am still here. At least that is what I tell myself most days...I either love it enough to continue on sticking around or I'm afraid of what the real world holds. If I'm honest, it's both.
This semester will be a defining point in my graduate career as well as my life! I am technically in the last semester of my degree program, I am in the process of meeting all and more of my degree requirements and am finally moving in the right direction on my thesis. These next four months could be my last chance to put off wearing real pants anywhere. (As a college student I feel that being in school is still a valid excuse to wear sweatpants EVERYWHERE. When asked "why didn't you dress up to go out tonight?" "Oh yeah, I had a test today. My brain is more comfortable resting when I'm wearing sweats, but thanks for asking.") The decision I have before me now is whether to apply to PA (Physician Assistant) School, apply for my PhD, or to call it done and become an adult.
So many choices, so little time.
Oh and I started teaching today! It was amazing and so fun. I may be jumping the gun by saying that only after the first day, but it was great getting to share my passion and my knowledge about anatomy with students who are exciting to learn more about it! Or are there by no choice of their own. On top of that I am taking 5 grad classes. Yep you read that right, 5. I'm only on my third day and have barely slept, have papers and assignments that are due soon, but no one ever said that grad school was easy.
Now that I have gotten all of those thoughts out of the way, the real reason behind this blog was to share with you a milestone that I have decided to tackle this year, a 50K! How crazy and exciting is that?! I am nervous yet excited to be taking on something of this magnitude. It was be a 31 mile trail run in November. Who would've thought I would ever tackle that. I have always wanted to run a marathon, but felt like that was something that I couldn't accomplish because of multiple hip surgeries. Now I say screw it, I'm gonna try anyway. Even if my body can't take the training load, at least I will know that I gave my heart and soul to it. The even cooler thing....I will be racing with Team Endurance for MS, which is an AWESOME organization out of NW Arkansas that has partnered with University of Arkansas to find a cure for MS. I am overjoyed to join them on my way to conquering this goal of mine.
If you have any interest in checking them out, which you should, go to their website! http://researchms.org/; they are doing amazing things, and they are amazing people. Did I mention I know them? I think that ups my cred some. Kidding.
Since I will be running for their team my goal this year is to raise $750 for their cause. Will you support me? You can give me a penny per mile or any amount of your choosing. Help us beat MS!
I'll be 26 next month. 26?! I can't believe that I am on the downhill slope of my twenties. Where did my time go? That shouldn't be a question really, more like a statement. I know where they went, if you check in the library of my last two universities you'll find the last 8 years of my life in the "reference" section. I love school, that is why I am still here. At least that is what I tell myself most days...I either love it enough to continue on sticking around or I'm afraid of what the real world holds. If I'm honest, it's both.
This semester will be a defining point in my graduate career as well as my life! I am technically in the last semester of my degree program, I am in the process of meeting all and more of my degree requirements and am finally moving in the right direction on my thesis. These next four months could be my last chance to put off wearing real pants anywhere. (As a college student I feel that being in school is still a valid excuse to wear sweatpants EVERYWHERE. When asked "why didn't you dress up to go out tonight?" "Oh yeah, I had a test today. My brain is more comfortable resting when I'm wearing sweats, but thanks for asking.") The decision I have before me now is whether to apply to PA (Physician Assistant) School, apply for my PhD, or to call it done and become an adult.
So many choices, so little time.
Oh and I started teaching today! It was amazing and so fun. I may be jumping the gun by saying that only after the first day, but it was great getting to share my passion and my knowledge about anatomy with students who are exciting to learn more about it! Or are there by no choice of their own. On top of that I am taking 5 grad classes. Yep you read that right, 5. I'm only on my third day and have barely slept, have papers and assignments that are due soon, but no one ever said that grad school was easy.
Now that I have gotten all of those thoughts out of the way, the real reason behind this blog was to share with you a milestone that I have decided to tackle this year, a 50K! How crazy and exciting is that?! I am nervous yet excited to be taking on something of this magnitude. It was be a 31 mile trail run in November. Who would've thought I would ever tackle that. I have always wanted to run a marathon, but felt like that was something that I couldn't accomplish because of multiple hip surgeries. Now I say screw it, I'm gonna try anyway. Even if my body can't take the training load, at least I will know that I gave my heart and soul to it. The even cooler thing....I will be racing with Team Endurance for MS, which is an AWESOME organization out of NW Arkansas that has partnered with University of Arkansas to find a cure for MS. I am overjoyed to join them on my way to conquering this goal of mine.
If you have any interest in checking them out, which you should, go to their website! http://researchms.org/; they are doing amazing things, and they are amazing people. Did I mention I know them? I think that ups my cred some. Kidding.
Since I will be running for their team my goal this year is to raise $750 for their cause. Will you support me? You can give me a penny per mile or any amount of your choosing. Help us beat MS!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
See Ya 2014
It seems all my friends are documenting their previous year so I thought I'd join the bandwagon and do the same. I decided this year to forgo the resolution, I try and better myself every day and I don't need the beginning of a new year to try and live up to some resolution I know I'll break by next week any way. 2014 was another year. It marked the final year in my graduate program, a family vacation, the marriage of a good childhood friend of mine, and many other memories. So instead of explaining I'll share them in pictures.
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| JANUARY The beginning of the spring semester and shenanigans at the gym |
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| FEBRUARY Celebrating 25, a snowstorm with Maximus, and the celebration of Hannah and her baby girl on the way! |
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| MARCH/APRIL/MAY Welcoming Bear to the family, Eric introducing Max to Michelle's furball, and my entrance into the 600lb club. |
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| JUNE So much fun spending time with the Holmes Family in FL, the marriage of my good childhood friend Michael to his beautiful bride, and the rebirth of my love for mountain biking. |
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| JULY Running the Ninja Turtle 5k, Michelle & Eric hard at work putting up hammock stands, traveling to VA with Junk Brands and my favorite ginger, float trip with the CF417 crew and celebrating Lee's "Birthday Girl'" birthday with a great ride. |
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| AUGUST On the road again with Junk Brands and the broski, my cousin being deployed to Afghanistan, and another care package from my favorite company, SKIN STRONG. |
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| SEPTEMBER Completed the endurance mountain bike challenge, Thorn-A-Thon with a PR 26 miles, and the loss of our beloved Maximus at 13 years old. RIP baby boy. |
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| OCTOBER/NOVEMBER Celebrating Eric's birthday with Michelle, Bear Bear over for a visit, and introducing the family to the love of cycling. |
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| DECEMBER Saying goodbye to the BEST lab group ever, taking family Christmas photos, attempting to take puppy pics, adoption of Cinna-bon - the newest edition to the Martin Crew, and celebrating the New Year with 5 of the coolest people under the age of 10. |
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Goodbye For Now
It's been 75 days since my best friend passed away. I originally wrote this post shortly after his death, but couldn't post it until I felt strong enough to accept the fact. My furball is gone, but his memories live on and I believe that a part of him lives on within me. As I consider a new addition to our family I am overwhelmed with emotions and what ifs. I am scared and excited, but I know that Max would've wanted us to show love to another furball companion. He would've wanted his life celebrated and not his death mourned.
Maximus, I will always love you. For you are the thing that got me through some of my toughest years. May you rest in peace. Until we meet again.
Love always,
J
It's with an extremely heavy heart that I write this post. My cuddle-bug, my shadow, and most of all my best friend passed away. It'll be two weeks on Tuesday that Max left us. Two weeks. It seems like the world is moving while mine is standing still. It seems as if time has taken on a new meaning. My days are short and my nights long. I find myself dreaming about him or finding something of his randomly placed around the house and I am overcome with emotion again. He fought so hard to stay with us. He was fighting even as he took his last breaths in my mother's arms. He would've done anything to stay with us just a little longer, I would've done anything for him to stay longer.
The bond that you create with an animal, especially with that of a dog is one that is everlasting. It is hard to explain the bond that Max and I shared. I loved him more than most humans in all honesty. His company was all I needed to make a bad day instantly better. He was always sitting at the door waiting to greet me when I got home from school, whether that be in the middle of the day...or the middle of night. He loved to have his nose rubbed and to be loved on. If he felt you hadn't given him an adequate enough belly scratch, he would come back nudging your hand for more. He loved the snow, oh how he loved it! I remember his first encounter with it, he slowly crept into the yard unsure of what he had encountered. It took no more than a minute for him to fall in love and run around scooping the snow up into his mouth and rolling around in it. There was a spark in his eyes and a desire for adventure in his soul. One that up until his last few days served him well, as well as landed him in doggie jail.
I feel an emptiness and a hole in my heart. The area that Max took up the second I saw him at the animal shelter. A hole that will not be filled anytime soon, perhaps never at all. I cannot explain in words the immense sadness and overwhelming loneliness that I have felt. People don't allow you to grieve when it is a pet that you've lost, as if an animal doesn't deserve the acknowledgment as a human death does. I believe that I was closer to my dog than I am to many of my human friends. I need to mourn, to miss, and grieve the loss of him because he MATTERED. For the longest time he was the only one I had. He mattered so much to me. I could lay on the floor and cry and he'd just lie next to me. He was always so excited when I got home, whether he got left in the dark or accidently left in the rain or even as I got out of the shower.
His presence and love made everything instantaneously better. I miss everything in my house being covered in his hair, his constant fidgeting during naptime, his "purring" and nose kisses, but most of all I miss his love and his companionship. His constant "shadow" quality, his love for the wind and the snow, but extreme hatred of anything related to water. The feel of his fur and his awful dog breath. What a gentle and beautiful soul he was. What a blessing he was to myself and my family.
My baby boy, my Maximus is finally at peace and pain free - that is something that I can take comfort in. The hole will always be there, but his memories will dull the ache.
My Maximus 08/11/2011 - 09/23/2014
Maximus, I will always love you. For you are the thing that got me through some of my toughest years. May you rest in peace. Until we meet again.
Love always,
J
It's with an extremely heavy heart that I write this post. My cuddle-bug, my shadow, and most of all my best friend passed away. It'll be two weeks on Tuesday that Max left us. Two weeks. It seems like the world is moving while mine is standing still. It seems as if time has taken on a new meaning. My days are short and my nights long. I find myself dreaming about him or finding something of his randomly placed around the house and I am overcome with emotion again. He fought so hard to stay with us. He was fighting even as he took his last breaths in my mother's arms. He would've done anything to stay with us just a little longer, I would've done anything for him to stay longer.
The bond that you create with an animal, especially with that of a dog is one that is everlasting. It is hard to explain the bond that Max and I shared. I loved him more than most humans in all honesty. His company was all I needed to make a bad day instantly better. He was always sitting at the door waiting to greet me when I got home from school, whether that be in the middle of the day...or the middle of night. He loved to have his nose rubbed and to be loved on. If he felt you hadn't given him an adequate enough belly scratch, he would come back nudging your hand for more. He loved the snow, oh how he loved it! I remember his first encounter with it, he slowly crept into the yard unsure of what he had encountered. It took no more than a minute for him to fall in love and run around scooping the snow up into his mouth and rolling around in it. There was a spark in his eyes and a desire for adventure in his soul. One that up until his last few days served him well, as well as landed him in doggie jail.
I feel an emptiness and a hole in my heart. The area that Max took up the second I saw him at the animal shelter. A hole that will not be filled anytime soon, perhaps never at all. I cannot explain in words the immense sadness and overwhelming loneliness that I have felt. People don't allow you to grieve when it is a pet that you've lost, as if an animal doesn't deserve the acknowledgment as a human death does. I believe that I was closer to my dog than I am to many of my human friends. I need to mourn, to miss, and grieve the loss of him because he MATTERED. For the longest time he was the only one I had. He mattered so much to me. I could lay on the floor and cry and he'd just lie next to me. He was always so excited when I got home, whether he got left in the dark or accidently left in the rain or even as I got out of the shower.
His presence and love made everything instantaneously better. I miss everything in my house being covered in his hair, his constant fidgeting during naptime, his "purring" and nose kisses, but most of all I miss his love and his companionship. His constant "shadow" quality, his love for the wind and the snow, but extreme hatred of anything related to water. The feel of his fur and his awful dog breath. What a gentle and beautiful soul he was. What a blessing he was to myself and my family.
My baby boy, my Maximus is finally at peace and pain free - that is something that I can take comfort in. The hole will always be there, but his memories will dull the ache.
My Maximus 08/11/2011 - 09/23/2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
My Maximus
"The bond with a dog is as lasting as the ties
of this earth can ever be."
- Konrad Lorenz
Dogs are special creatures. They can change your world if given the opportunity. Thirteen years ago today my best friend entered this world. He has defied me, loved me, explored with me, and been there when all I needed were some furry ears to listen. Today is my puppy's thirteenth birthday and this is what I wish I could say to him...Dearest Maximus,
Ever since you entered our lives that October morning back in 2001, you have been a blessing. You have been through so much with our family. You brought light into it when there wasn't much. After thirteen years, four moves, who knows how many chew toys and boat rides, you are still as happy as you've ever been. I wish that I could share this day with you and take away some of your pain as you have taken away some of mine. It hurts my heart to know that you don't have much longer left with us, but hopefully these last few months can be filled with lots of walks and even more adventures. You always were one for exploring, from the caves at Devil's Den to chasing deer through the woods as we chased you, it has been a glorious ride.
You've always been one step behind us, making sure that your family is looked out for. Whether that be at the soccer park or the front yard. You've managed to do things without anyone noticing, like sneaking into the house, taking a nap in the back of the neighbor's van, or taking yourself for a walk; you never cease to make us laugh. You are one of the weirder dogs I have ever met. One who does not bark, or fetch, or like water, or other dogs for that matter, which is funny and probably accounts for your stealth like qualities.
Max, you are my cuddle-bug, my partner in crime, my grass eating, snow-loving, shadow of a best friend. I miss hearing the clicking of your nails on the wood floor of my house, your breathing while I study, the constant fidgeting while I nap, and your company. I know that grandpa, grandma, and mom are taking great care of you in these final months, just know how much I love you and that when you are ready to let go, it's okay. Even though you are 91 years old today (human years) you will always be a puppy in my eyes.
Happy birthday you furball and may you somehow sneak your way into the cookie jar for an extra birthday treat.
Forever and always,
Jess
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