A Remembrance Video of Mattie

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am forever grateful. As my readers know, I promised to write the blog for a year after Mattie's death, which would mean that I could technically have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that still needs to be processed and fortunately I have a willing support network still committed to reading. Therefore, the blog continues on. If I should find the need to stop writing, I assure you I will give you advanced notice. In the mean time, thank you for reading, thank you for having the courage to share this journey with me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.


As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki



January 19, 2024

Friday, January 19, 2024

Friday, January 19, 2024

Tonight's picture was taken in January of 2009. Mattie was home from his trip to New York City, where he began his experimental treatment. While there, we tried to do some sight seeing, which wasn't easy in the city with a wheelchair. But we made it happen. We took Mattie to the Empire State Building and in the gift shop we bought an erector set. Mattie and Peter assembled it together and believe it or not, to this day, this building remains in my office on display. We had great hopes back then that we could fight this disease, and to me this silver erector set is that symbolic beacon of hope that remains alive in my office. 


Quote of the day: The bond with a dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be. ~ Konrad Lorenz


Today is Day 9 without Sunny! I will never forget the beauty of dog ownership. No matter the weather, Sunny needed to go out. With his beautiful double coat, he did not mind the cold at all. I however, had to learn to dress appropriately to manage our two hour walks. Honestly the idea of going for a walk now is very unappealing without my buddy in tow. 

My friend Dawnee sent me this lovely book today. It is a loving book of poetry focused on dog ownership. It is hard to describe the depths of losing a dog, but for me Sunny was my world. Without him, everything is gray. I have been so used to cooking extra food at dinner time for 7 years, that now even my cooking is completely off. I always think..... maybe Sunny will like this? Or I have to save extra chopped meat to make a Sunny burger. I hope he is getting all the treats he so deserves up there in heaven and that Mattie has found Sunny. Mattie always wanted a dog, and I am hoping by now my two best boys have found one another. 
I spent the day trapped at home and working at the computer. It was like the day came and went. In fact, I would say my existence since Peter left is just that..... I exist but there is no happiness or joy. 

My dad's memory care center was closed and the weather prediction in my opinion was very off. As we got more snow then I know what to do with. 

Thankfully my neighbor dug us out twice today, but look at the status of the street. Totally impossible to drive. Remember I learned to drive in Los Angeles, so I am not skilled in snow. In addition, the driveway is an ice skating rink and I need to order sand asap in order to address this problem, as I have no intention of breaking a bone. 



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