My OLW is already at work.

I chose brave as my OLW (and wrote about it here).  Little did I know I’d be putting my word  to the test so soon. My sweet old dog Molly is failing. This morning, before school,  I took her to the vet and left her there, feeling guilty that I wasn’t able to stay but relieved that she wasn’t home alone. She’d been unable to walk as I was making my morning coffee.

The vet, who’s known her all her life, called this afternoon, and the news wasn’t good. She doesn’t have a terrible disease- she’s just old. And senile, and arthritic. And there is no cure. She’s having trouble moving. My vet had told me six months ago, “She’s in her bonus months.” We will  switch up her meds and try to control the pain. But, if that doesn’t work, there are hard conversations ahead. Conversations that will require a bit of bravery.

I’ve been dreading what I jokingly refer to as this long goodbye. I sent my firstborn off to college last August, and her sister will head that direction this coming August. And I guess I always knew Molly might leave us somewhere in-between those milestones.

Goodbyes require one to be brave. I’m going to be leaning on my word sooner than later.