Here we go again into another season without my Max. 
The grieving process is different for each individual, and for me, the first year is brutal with experiencing the change of seasons without him.
Category: Pets
Confessions from Lock Down
I probably shouldn’t confess this out on a public forum, but here we go anyway . . .
Snow, Flowers, and Chiengora
So, this happened over the weekend. 👇
Gifts to Humanity
A strange thing happened when we went to the cemetery. My loved one wasn’t even buried there, but I found comfort.
I don’t go to cemeteries to visit any lost loved ones, so I was surprised at the comfort that poured over me. Continue reading “Gifts to Humanity”
We Said Goodbye
We said our final goodbyes to Max last night, January 8, 2020 around 6pm. I have no energy in me to write much else at the moment. I wrote the following while he was sick but still with us. Thank you for honoring our sweet boy by reading it. I may be scarce for a little while.
A Decade that Hurts
On May 24, 2019, I received a notification that it was my tenth anniversary with WordPress.
But, hold on.
I have not been blogging for ten years. I’ve been blogging for seven and a half years.
So, why did I get a ten year anniversary notification?
Blaze
I hadn’t planned a second post for this week, but I feel the need to write this story.
In May of 2007, my husband brought home a stray puppy that had been roaming the 
busy city streets of Tampa. We had our beloved Piezon in those days, plus our cat, Sneakers, and weren’t really up for a third pet. We both hoped that my training would get this pup into shape for us to find her a loving forever home.
Piezon wasn’t crazy about having another dog in the house either. Oh, he was certainly kind to her. He was just used to my full attention and was always by my side. With this new pup around me so much, he went off into other rooms by himself more often.
I named this sweet little girl Blaze for two reasons. One, she had a fiery brindle coat. Two, she was a bit timid, and I wanted her name to be a word with an energy of vibrancy and confidence.
Piezon was such a friendly guy. I wrote in his eulogy about how he loved all living things and was never shy or timid. Little did I know how much he would help me train Blaze and bring her out of her shell. When she’d hide from visitors who came over to our house, Piezon would run right for them, which made her curious. She’d have to come and see what all of his excitement was about. By simply being himself, Piezon is pretty much the one who trained Blaze for me. She emulated him.
I put out flyers and brought her to adoption events. Five months went by, and I was growing fonder of Miss Blaze. I told my husband that after six months she would be ours. Right when I made that decision, our dog-walker’s mom showed interest in adopting her, and soon after, Blaze was off to her forever home.
I was able to keep up with Blaze’s life through social media. Her new family named her Gioia (pronounced, Joy-ah), which in Italian means, Joy.
I saw Gioia in person twice in the coming months, and then a lot of time went by without personal contact. Would you believe that when we met again years later, she remembered me?! It makes me cry 
just thinking about it.
I haven’t seen her in person for many years now, but watched her life through social media. Over this past weekend, I got word she left this world for the next and it has me feeling emotional. I also feel very sad for Gioia’s mom.
Thank you for indulging my story about the Blaze who lit up five months of my life.
My Guys
Listening to the neighbor’s nonstop barking dog made me grateful for the dogs I’ve had in my life.
Max and my beloved Piezon (Paesano in Italian who is now gone 😥) have been fully obedient and only bark when someone is near our house or approaching the door.
Memories Fade – A Tribute
The years keep ticking by. As of tomorrow, it’ll be nine of them since he left this world.
Memories fade. I hate that.
Faith in Things Unseen
I don’t understand a lack of faith in things unseen. Love is unseen, yet it goes on even after death. Why doesn’t love cease to exist if the person we love no longer exists?
Pet Blessing
One Gimp, Two Gimp 1
It happened two weeks after our cross country move. I sauntered down the stairs in our new place and stopped on the last step to give my hubby, Gary, a hug. Shortly after, we parted to go in different directions.
I turned to go right and . . . SCREAM!
Six Years ago Today
Out Loud
by Lori (L. Virelli)
Spreading Smiles
This photo makes me smile and hopefully it will make you smile too. He (Max) looks so happy.
Last Monday I shared in a blog post about something that makes me smile. I then challenged any other bloggers to share something that made them smile, hoping we can spread the happiness.
Two Years Later
Not Dagwood’s Blondie
Shh, don’t tell Max I told you, but he has a girlfriend. Her name is Blondie.
Uh-oh, I think he knows I told his secret, he looks embarrassed.
The Dog Wrangler
I recently hired a pet sitter/walker to walk our Max (Australian Shepherd) once a week. We walk him every day, but we like to take a break once in a while.
I interviewed Nanda, a small Brazilian woman, and the female dog whisperer. She not only talked the talk, but she walked the walk … literally. She became the alpha over my dog in an instant, which isn’t always easy.
One night, just before she stepped out to walk him, two large stray dogs raced by our house at top speed.
“Oh no,” I said, pissed off. “It’s that corner house again. One dog is some kind of a hound mix, the other a pit bull. Those people don’t walk their dogs, so they break out of jail and get the exercise they need on their own. Problem is, it’s dangerous for those of us who are responsible dog owners.”
Nanda moved into action. I witnessed this five foot woman step out into the middle of the street, put two fingers in her mouth and blast out a whistle. Those two dogs, which were almost as tall as her, turned around and headed right toward her. She stood her ground, pointed to their house and shouted, “GO HOME!”
I couldn’t believe my eyes. They dashed right past her. Nanda followed them to their house, and I followed her. She pointed to their fence and they ran inside.
Side note: These dogs frequently get loose. In a past incident, I saw the owners of the two dogs chasing them up and down the street trying to get them back home, but the dogs didn’t listen to them.
Now, you’d think Nanda settled the matter once she wrangled them to their yard, but no. The six-foot wood fence door wouldn’t latch shut. Holding the door with one hand, she knocked on the dog owner’s window with the other. The large lady inside, who obviously has only walked from her front door to the car door, let alone ever take a leash to her dogs, approached the window.
Nanda raised her voice to be heard. “Come out here and get your fence door closed. The dogs got loose.”
Through the pane, the lady said, “They got out?”
“YES! Come out and close your fence door.”
Sure enough, out clomped the lady, who moved something in front of the fence door to keep it shut. Wow! Nanda’s a people whisperer too!
Check out her website at Nanda’s Walking Paws. Not only is it about her pet sitting services, but she has lots of info about dogs too.
Our Boy
This is a day I can’t let go by without honoring the one I love who left me on this day three years ago. My boy, my hero, my wise old soul, Piezon. Continue reading “Our Boy”
One Year Later
One year ago yesterday, a three-year-old tri-color Australian Shepherd, named Max, came into our home smiling, ears perked and friendly. Already well-trained by his previous family, he fell right into the routine of our household, except for one thing … the look in his eyes. Something about them seemed serious, guarded.
To anyone else he appeared perfectly normal, happy and carefree. I knew different. I lived with him throughout the days and nights. His rigid mannerisms showed nary a smile, and only a rare wag of the infamous Aussie stub-tail. His wary glances said, don’t get too close. I don’t trust you. Continue reading “One Year Later”
Lori's Lane 